It may surprising that we only need one more lemma to finish Euler's proof for Fermat's Last Theorem: n=3. This is an easy one. For those interested in seeing the entire proof for Fermat's Last Theorem: n = 3, start here.
Lemma: For all odd numbers, there exists a value n such that the number is equal to 4n ± 1 with n greater than 0.
(1) Let S = the set of all odd numbers representable by 4n + 1 or 4n - 1
(2) We know that 1 is an element of this set since 1 = 4(0) + 1
(3) We can then presuppose that there is some value v such that all odd numbers less than or equal to v are describeable by 4n + 1 or 4n - 1. We know that v is greater or equal to 1
(4) Now, we will prove that if v is of the form 4n + 1 or 4n - 1, then v + 2 is also of this form.
Case I: v is of the form 4n + 1
v + 2 = 4n + 1 + 2 = 4n + 3 = 4(n+1) - 1
Case II: v is of the form 4n - 1
v + 2 = 4n - 1 + 2= 4n + 1
(5) By the Principle of Mathematical Induction, we have proven this lemma.
QED
Friday, June 03, 2005
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2 comments:
Wow 5 Lemmas deep from the Proof of FLT for n=3.
A lemma to prove a lemma to prove a lemma to prove a lemma to prove a lemma to prove the proof!
I'm getting a nose bleed!
:-)
Rob
I was even deeper than I thought!
6 levels deep!
Crikey.
Rob
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