Fermat's Last Theorem. Mathematical notation summarising the theorem proposed in 1637 by French mathematician Pierre de Fermat. The theorem is defined using three integer numbers x, y, z, raised to the power of n. The notation used here states that when n is greater than 2, it is not possible for the sum of x and y (both raised to the power of n) to equal z raised to the power of n (equation at lower right). It took over 300 years for this theorem to be solved, and a proof was published to worldwide acclaim in 1995 after work by British mathematician Andrew Wiles and others. Part of his paper is seen in the background.