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24. Duben 1972
Fermat's Last Theorem
I started independent research in 1970 while residing at Venn Road, Onitsha. I stayed up late into the night to repeat Newton's experiment with lights.
| a | b | c |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 12 | 13 |
| 7 | 24 | 25 |
| 9 | 40 | 41 |
| 11 | 60 | 61 |
| 13 | 84 | 85 |
| 15 | 112 | 113 |
| 17 | 144 | 145 |
| 19 | 180 | 181 |
| 21 | 220 | 221 |
| 23 | 264 | 265 |
| 25 | 312 | 313 |
| 27 | 364 | 365 |
| 29 | 420 | 421 |
| 31 | 480 | 481 |
In 1972, my interest shifted to Fermat's Last Theorem and number theory. Late afternoons and weekends, when students had left, I will retreat inside the primary school opposite the Ibusa (Midwest State, Nigeria) market. Because the classrooms had no doors or windows or guards, I studied quietly until it is dark.
I independently discovered several Pythagorean triplets, three natural numbers a, b and c with
The set (3, 4, 5) is the smallest and best known Pythagorean triplet. Most students learned it in the classic right triangle relationship.
I was trying to generate as many triplets as possible because I held the belief that it will get me closer to the solution of Fermat's theorem.
I purchased all the mathematics textbooks available at Onitsha market - namely C.V. Durrell's masterpieces on Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. After solving all the problems I went and purchased the most advanced textbook in Onitsha Market, a hefty volume entitled "Infinitesimal Calculus." It costs one pound five shillings which was about a month's salary for working class Nigerians.
Carrying my math tome around caused some consternation among students at Christ the King College, Onitsha. I was given the nickname "Infinitesimal Calculus" but because most people had difficulty pronouncing the word "infinitesimal," my nickname was shortened to "Calculus." In fact, few of my classmates knew my real name but the entire student body knew of "calculus."
I kept a secret from my classmates: the reason that I bought the book was not because I was impatient to master the subject. I was a post-Biafran transfer student to the very competitive Christ the King College. The talented but snobbish students assumed that I will flunk out. To prove them wrong, I studied harder than any student. Having worked hard to gain the reputation as the school math wiz, I did not want to lose my number one position. The only way to stay ahead of my rivals was to start studying calculus while others were still in Chapter Three of their algebra textbook.
Nonetheless I was pleased with the attention and respect that came with owning such an advanced text. While they were learning how to solve quadratic equations I brought what was described as an "undergraduate book" full of heartstopping equations.
My friends had a fear of mathematics called "math phobia" or "math anxiety" that bordered on the irrational. Tufiakwa Kenneth Ilodigwe [who later played for Enugu Rangers, Green Eagles and Buffalo Soldiers of Howard University soccer teams] screamed.
In 1972, I sent my first research paper on Pythagorean Triplets to Reader's Digest. I didn't know where else to send it. I wait and wait but I never got a response from the Digest. Then it occurred to me to focus me attention on TOEFL and SAT and apply for admission to American schools.
My photo taken when I came to Enugu to sit for my American SAT.
My photo taken for my Nigerian travel passport.
Posted by emeagwali at 24. Duben 1972 9:55