1
$\begingroup$

I could not get the point why people are so crazy about FLT?, I have seen that there is no much difference in Beal conjecture as well as FLT. Why people will pose such conjecture and announce prize money, when there is no application/use in Math/science. If there is any use of applicability of this theorem in reality, where we can apply? what are the uses in real life? If you know, please let me know. Clearly, I want to lean the applicability of the FLT or beal in real life? If there, let me know as well as other members.

Thanks in advance -Richard Sieman

$\endgroup$
5
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ "Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination." $\endgroup$
    – user137794
    May 3, 2014 at 5:39
  • $\begingroup$ Well for as for the popularity from a non-mathematical viewpoint... FLT is a simple problem that most can understand, with an arguably cool backstory, with an amazing proof. Beal's conjecture from what I looked up, is not proven, I would argue doesn't have as cool a backstory, and not quite as trivial in terms of describing the problem to a non-mathematician (although don't get me wrong, it isn't like it is impossible to understand). I saw a documentary on FLT in high school as an inspiration. If you are looking for more mathematical reason, someone else should probably answer. $\endgroup$
    – Dair
    May 3, 2014 at 5:39
  • $\begingroup$ @anon! Still I am looking more. $\endgroup$
    – Richard Sieman
    May 3, 2014 at 5:51
  • $\begingroup$ When first conjectured, the problem was so amazingly simply yet so hard to prove at the same time. I guess that was what made it popular. $\endgroup$
    – Yiyuan Lee
    May 3, 2014 at 7:39
  • $\begingroup$ It'd be interesting to know what "real life" and like what "applications to it" mean to you, @RichardSieman . $\endgroup$
    – DonAntonio
    May 3, 2014 at 12:35

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
$\begingroup$

Why people will pose such conjecture and announce prize money, when there is no application or use in Math/science.

To answer a question with a question: Why do people offer up to millions of dollars for guessing six numbers out of $49$, or winning a poker tournament, when that has even less applicability in math, life, and science ? :-)

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .