[net.math] Proofs of Fermat's Last Theorem

kevyn@watarts.UUCP (KCT) (01/09/85)

For the last few centuries, no-one has been able to produce a valid
proof or disproof of Fermat's Last Theorem.  My question is:

kevyn@watarts.UUCP (KCT) (01/09/85)

Please excuse my last article;  the terminal screwed up.

My question is this:  A previous article stated that Fermat's
Last Theorem may not even be provable by "elementary" methods.
What, exactly, is an "elementary" method?  Furthermore, what
is the basis for the meta-mathematics used by Godel and others
to produce items like Godel's Theorem?  Are these basic axioms
interchangable?  How "basic" is "basic"?  I don't really expect
a definite answer to each of these questions, of course, but
in light of the news of the "proof" of FLT, it's hard not to
ask!  { andthisbunchofdrivelishereso"ask!"won'tfeelallalone }

                          Yours truly,

Kevyn Collins-Thompson ,  University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, CANADA !!
      ....{allegra|clyde|utzoo|ihnp4|decvax}!watmath!watarts!kevyn