Fermat's theorem

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. the theorem that an integer raised to a prime power leaves the same remainder as the integer itself when divided by the prime.

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Etymology

Origin of Fermat's theorem

First recorded in 1805–15; named after P. de Fermat

Example Sentences

But if the abc conjecture is true, Fermat’s theorem is more easily explained.

From Scientific American

In 1753, he announced that he had solved an aspect of Fermat’s theorem.

From New York Times

And despite guidance from Richard Taylor, a white mathematician then at Harvard who had assisted in solving Fermat’s theorem, Dr. Goins was unable to publish the paper he produced four years later.

From New York Times

“They also put up a not-quite-true counter-example to Fermat’s Theorem,” Joel Rubin posted on Nov. 7, 1995.

From Slate

Malcolm Gladwell writes in his book “Outliers” of the almost magical 10,000 hours of concentrated application required to reach full potential in any pursuit, whether it be figure skating or solving Fermat’s theorem.

From Salon