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Article: MATH MASTER STILL WRESTLING WITH SOLUTION.(LIFE & LEISURE)
- Article from:
- Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)
- Article date:
- June 28, 1994
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Albany Times Union. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: GINA KOLATA New York Times
One year ago, a shy and somewhat secretive mathematician stunned the world by announcing that he had proved Fermat's last theorem, the most famous unsolved problem in mathematics. Yet a year later, he still has not published his proof. Was the claim premature?
In short, it is probably too early to say. A subtle gap has been found in the manuscript of the proof. Its author, Dr. Andrew Wiles of Princeton University, is working in seclusion to close the gap. A tense quiet has settled over the community of mathematicians, a few predicting failure, others expressing confidence based on the fact that Wiles' proof is ...