13 Lectures on Fermat's Last Theorem

Fermats problem also ealled Fermats last theorem has attraeted the attention of mathematieians far more than three eenturies. Many clever methods have been devised to attaek the problem and many beautiful theories have been ereated with the aim of proving the theorem. Yet despite all the attempts the question remains unanswered. The topie is presented in the form of leetures where I survey the main lines of work on the problem. In the first two leetures there is a very brief deseription of the early history as well as a seleetion of a few of the more representative reeent results. In the leetures whieh follow I examine in sue­ eession the main theories eonneeted with the problem. The last two lee tu res are about analogues to Fermats theorem. Some of these leetures were aetually given in a shorter version at the Institut Henri Poineare in Paris as well as at Queens University in 1977. I endeavoured to produee a text readable by mathematieians in general and not only by speeialists in number theory. However due to a limitation in size I am aware that eertain points will appear sketehy. Another book on Fermats theorem now in preparation will eontain a eonsiderable amount of the teehnieal developments omitted here. It will serve those who wish to learn these matters in depth and I hope it will clarify and eomplement the present volume.