That is so amazing, I've heard of him but never saw this clip. THAT problem in particular has 358 years of history and he derived the first proof of it in 1994 ! Of course I think he had inspiration from previous attempts, colleagues, relevant papers, etc.; which does NOT take away at all from his achievement. So cool, watching this honestly helps remind me the joy I feel in solving problems in physics research when I get bogged down in failures
I saw this on the TV when it was first shown. I was a child, not interested in maths but as a family we used to watch Horizon was it? I knew who he was as soon as I saw the thumbnail and even remembered the name "Fermat's last theorum". It was so moving to see his absolute joy.
@@thewholething430 On an absolute pedestal, sure, but it's important to recognize people like Andrew Wiles and hold them in high regard. Every person has flaws, but we can all seek to improve ourselves by studying the lives of the greats who lay before us.
The fact that he’s grateful for doing something great, realizing the magnitude of it, and being glad he experienced that in one’s only chance on this planet. That’s something wonderful.
@@sqlexp Shutup burger. Imagine being such a lardy lump of playdough that a relatively normal human is anorexic in your eyes. Go make your wife's fat roll's do that ocean wave machine thing
Much needed context. I will try my hardest to simplify this: This story is about how one dude, Andrew Wiles (and a friend) managed to solve a proof "Fermat's Last Theorem" for x^n + y^n = z^n ; n>2 where no matter what you put in for n, the answer will NEVER EVER be whole numbers. THIS is his explanation of how he felt after he (and a friend) managed to solve this proof to PROVE that indeed any number greater than 2 for n will NEVER be a whole number. Andrew Wiles was working on a separate proof ("Taniyama-Shemura Conjecture") where through math stuff, if you prove this proof, you'll get the Fermat's Last Theorem proven as a freebee. It took Andrew 7 years working on this alone, until one day he figured it out, and published it for peer review. Thing is, Andrew made one small mistake, and was embarrassed as a result. So for another year after (now working with his friend), he managed to suddenly FIX the mistake he made, and also proving Taniyama-Shemura Conjecture! Thus through its mathematical relationship, he also proved that, indeed, Fermat's Last Theorem IS correct, and there is NO number you could put in n that'll give whole numbers as answers when n>2. With that being said: I think it's awe-inspiring what Andrew Wiles did. When you're working damn hard on something, slaving away, and it just beats you down for you to come and beat it...only for it to throw one final haymaker and knock you out...only for you to beat the count and stand up to dominate it. To me: This (romantically) taps in to something about humanity which I believe is utterly inspiring and beautiful. That we, all of us, just won't give up and despite the odds, still win. Andrew Wiles did it. He succeeded....and in a selfish way...we ALL succeed.
@@chickey333 The only thing I can possibly think of is if you're searching for prime number answers, there's no point in using equations that have an exponent greater than 2? Maybe that? I'm not sure.
@@ibrahimtall6209 That's the question. Maybe he really got everything figured out and is still able to distinguish between work life and private life and is wise enough to phrase it that way in order to express that no matter what you achieve with your work life, you need private life achievements to feel complete.
Solving a difficult problem (especially anything related to Mathematics and Physics) gives a different level of accomplishment and gratification. I can't express it in words but it is meditative. It feels like you have actually gained something useful out of it.
The agony experienced every other day of not knowing how to solve a problem, it is a self sacrifice. By the time a brief moment of success appears, with no one looking, is there a man left standing? Like being handed a pinch of bread after weeks starvation.
To be honest, this is how I felt when I got my high school diploma this year at age 41. Brilliantly said! I know my feat is not as impressive; i do feel content. I received a 1000.00 scholarship from it. Thank you for uploading this. It meant the world to me.
Genuine geniuses understand that genius is a spectrum and not binary, and that everyone on that spectrum is unlikely to behave the same - for every genius that speaks concisely and deliberately there's likely to be another that speaks quickly and passionately.
I have found out that the less I control myself, for example based on external expectations, and the less I fear of revealing who I truly am to myself and others, the more I am connected to the whole that is me and what it needs/wants, and by following this path you'll get passion and excitement (for example procrastination for me is simply that you don't want to do something). I'm hesistant to advocate any philosophy as truth, because people, me included, are often misguided, but since you asked, this is how I feel at the moment@@yetanotherrandomyoutubecha4382
I almost teared up when Wiles described his solving of the proof. When the "LIGHT" goes off in our heads, and we arrive at an answer or solution, we sometimes forget to acknowledge them properly. So glad he was captured on film for the world to see him recount his moment of success.
This man solved, with indescribable geniality, a process that was long thought to have no proof. Which is Fermat's Last Theorem. So many mathematicians who previously worked on it discouraged this man's work, but he was unshaken by this. It is hard to see a MATHEMATICIAN, of all people, getting emotional as he remembers it. The paper he published had errors that were challenged upon, but nevertheless he changed it and the answer still lied in Truth. Like Fermat or Gauss, he became one of the greatest mathematicians to have ever lived. And he still works to this day.
The comparison with fermat and gauss is a little bit too much. Especially with Gauss we are talking about a man that had the basics for non euclidean geometry in his drawer but found it not worth publishing and lets not start talking about what he all did
@@smokingsnowman7838 everyone pales in comparison to Euler who wrote half of all equations that exist (metaphorically of course, but his contribution is on that level). He even contributed similarly in other fields.
As much as I admire Andrew Wiles (my interest is in the same topic he primarily used to solve Fermat's Last Theorem), comparing him with Johann Carl Friedrich Gauß is overrating him. Gauß is like the ultimate mathematician who has one of the best mathematical tuition, rigour, proficiency etc. Edit : Gauß settled a 2000 years old question and that's not even his best work!!
I love how humble he appears. The passion he exhibits reminds me of my relationship with my art. I was once an artist. Very rare indeed to realize your dreams. This was quite beautiful, thank you.
This is from a BBC documentary, and I can tell you as a former BBC employee this piece is highly thought of within the Corporation, in terms of the story itself, and the film’s format/execution. It’s a beautiful and moving film, from Horizon circa 1995, initially tx’d on BBC2 I believe. It’s marvelous.
for the next 600 years, algebraic topologists would struggle to find the solution to the tangle of papers and notes. one day, a genius mathematician by the name of Windrew Ailes had an incredible breakthrough and proved that the mess was indeed physically possible in 3D space.
Not just technology, friend, but sheer thinking. Free thinking. The desire to understand and grow and develop and to be in love with education ... to know that knowledge fueled by love and passion ... it's us being closer to the divine and in tune to the natural. Fantastic.
Not everyone likes to go monke mate , also old people also used tech , as mundane as a pulley to drough out water from a well without getting inside@@guenthersteiner3311
I've heard of Andrew Wiles before but never heard him describe the feeling of his own epiphany. What an incredible moment and what an incredible achievement
I will probably never experience this myself, but he tells his story with so much gratitude and vulnerability that it's vicariously satisfying. It also makes me love human nature more.
"I just stared in disbelief for 20 minutes" been there, with my mouth wide open at how surprising and amazing something had been, love hearing about this.
Whatever he feels reminds me of Nikola Tesla’s quote about how the thrill of seeing your creation unfold to success makes you forget everything even love. Just pure joy and I envy him for ever feeling it.
He brought another proof for the rest of us. That hard and persistent work on something you love can be one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.
Only for little Timmy to say to his 3rd grade teacher: "math sucks, we won't need this to buy groceries" As if buying groceries would be the most intellectual thing he'd be doing.
@@rasnaufI'm a student, and I care about this. Professors do as well. Institutions are made up of people. Academic institutions aren’t like how they’re shown on TV and politicized. STEM fields are fascinating and have lots of support. They’re what pushes the human race further and further.
Reading the explanations in the comments makes me wish I had a mathematicians brain because I have no clue why all this man’s hard work that he must have spent years on even remotely matters. I assume some of you understand why it matters, but there very well may be no amount of explanation that will ever make me understand the point of this. But I love his pride in…. whatever it is he accomplished. May you all feel that sense of pride in something you are passionate about.
Explorers find new places no person has ever seen before, despite the fact that the place has always existed. This is the same thing, except that new place has always existed in the human mind.
So I felt the same way so I did a little independent research and this is what I more or less understand: He proved some century old theorem which doesn't have a ton of practical uses or applications, but the way in which he proved/solved/did it created new tools for mathematicians to use in other fields like coding and cryptography and stuff. Im not sure about all this is 100% cuz i didnt really understand it a ton either, but thats my takeaway.
This is Andrew Wiles! He solved Fermat’s Last Theorem! It’s kind of like the Pythagorean Theorem in that the square of the two sides is equal to the square of the hypotenuse so a^2 + b^2 = c^2. Fermat’s Last Theorem posits that if you try to use powers higher than 2, there are no whole numbers that you can use as a, b, and c, that could make the equation true. But nobody could find a proof for this. Andrew Wiles found a proof for it in 1994, after 300 years of the Theorem being left unsolved. I absolutely would love to talk to him about exactly how he solved it and hear it in his own words. What he did was so groundbreaking and showed the true extent of human ingenuity and dedication. Nobody thought this problem had a proof and it took 300 years for it to come to light. I was emotional watching this video because I could clearly feel how much it meant to him because you don’t usually see mathematicians being this emotional or talkative unless they’re a teacher 🥺 You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand his joy; I was always good at math, but I really hated it and much preferred art since it was something I loved and was drawn to. Mathematics to me always felt so robotic and devoid of emotion and expression. It also didn’t help that the person who traumatized me was a math teacher. It’s things like this that made me continue with math and led me to start liking it. I felt like I could solve problems for myself and not for others, and it’s not as depressing as I once thought. I started my course and I realised that I actually like to solve math problems, it’s fun. I have a whiteboard in my room now and I just write equations to solve for fun 😊 it’s not about having a mathematical brain, it’s about staying curious and dedicated and always open to new ideas. That will help you better absorb abstract ideas and work through math problems; most of it is strategy
@@annulrsolformrkelse4023 Thanks ! That's good to hear, and nice to meet a fellow piano lover out here. I'm interested in lots of things, in fact I studied maths in a previous life. But having completed this I went into software programming and have never used any maths since. It remains a special interest though.
As a learner of English I managed to understand everything this guy told. Although it wasn't hard for me now, it took many years and a lot of effort to achieve my current level. So I feel a bit like this renowned mathematician.
Look at him while he talks about the revelation. He just sits there, unable to say anything, about to cry. And I have the immense feeling that he is about to cry of the beauty he has revealed, not because he has what would standartly described as "success". What a beautiful soul he must be.
HA!! I'm not sure it's the same book but I bought one also called Fermat's Last Theorem and it made zero sense to me but damn it looked like a lot of work to get there.
I read that book when I was in highschool, It inspired me to study physics, however, I was not the genius I thought I was, nonetheless, it is such a rewarding career.
What *Andrew Wiles* did was that he proved the modularity theorem for semistable elliptic curves, which was already known to be enough to imply Fermat's Last Theorem. That is, like *Isaac Newton* famously said: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
Worth noting that elliptic curves power modern encryption, so the math this guy worked with wasn't just abstract theorems, but is actually embedded in virtually every software-running device in the world, also cryptocurrency
I hope his wife hugged and kissed him after hearing his big news, this dude definitely looks like he needed just that simple "I'm proud of you" moment.
1:46 The guy is crazy: right after he worked for years in secret and discovered a solution to a 300 years problem, the first thing he does is "a walk outside", risking to be run over by a car or stumble and hit his head. Imagine, he could have fallen from the chair while being in disbelief for those 20 minutes, and die. I mean, the guts.
He probably went for a walk in University Parks, just behind the then Oxford Mathematics Institute. You just have to cross one road, with low traffic, that's it.
Idk why and how this was suggested to me. But I'm an ungrad student and have a really really important exam on 30th January. And i was exactly struggling in maths so much. I am thinking to re learn everything and try to score as much as I can. This man is really an inspiration for me. No matter how hard it might get. I wanna do it because I love maths, i love every bit of it even if its hard. I just need to start again. I hope I'll be able to make it to a better engineering branch.
The satisfaction of solving a 300 year old problem. Imagine how Euler and Gauss must have felt. They have experienced this so many times in their lives. It probably became an addiction to have the feeling again and again. If I remember correctly Gauss solved a problem that no one could solve for over 2000 years, at the age of 17.
@@poornasai6985 "No progress on the unsolved problems was made for two millennia, until in 1796 Gauss showed that a regular polygon with 17 sides could be constructed" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straightedge_and_compass_construction
There was still what appeared to be a minor flaw, but it turned into a major one. That was when he asked for help for the first time, and together with a colleague they finally completed the proof that stood.
This man perfectly embodies the essence of the German word for passion, Leidenschaft (which literally translates to the state of suffering). What a difficult but worthwhile journey.
@@denisg1208 Ich glaube, sowohl ‘Leiden’ im Deutschen als auch ‘passion’ im Englischen bezogen sich ursprünglich auf die physischen Leiden Christi am Kreuz. Es scheint jedoch eine Debatte darüber zu geben.
@@arrbtifn2556 das Wort gibts, soweit ich weiß, schon länger als die Bibelautoren (so sagt mein graecum, das aber auch schon wieder eine weile her ist). Der gute Gemoll (Wörterbuch) sagt dazu (verkürzt) 1. einen Eindruck erfahren... 2. Im negativen Sinne: Leiden, Leid ertragen... 3. Euphemismus für das Sterben 4. Im positiven Sinne: erfahren, genießen
@@denisg1208 Etymology 17th century, from Leiden (“suffering”) + -schaft, a calque of Latin passio. Compare Dutch lijdenschap. From the Wiktionary article on the word Leidenschaft. Aso vo dem her chasch du meine was du wetsch :))
Not a single ounce of bravado or conceit, just pure humility. This is one of the smartest people in the world and he calls it a privilege to work on the problem. Very inspiring. Jist goes to show that no matter how smart you are...or think you are...youre going to face challenges. So if youre working on something difficult and you start to lose hope or start to doubt yourself, just look to Andrew Wiles for inspiration. Keep chipping away at that problem or goal. It may take you years...but eventually...you will succeed!
What an endurance and patience this man has to solve such a great problem. I also recommend the book by Simon Singh on the fermats last theorem, for a more deep view into his life and of the problem history
As someone who has always struggled with mathematics and in turn felt like an outsider to the entire subject, I've always viewed the field and the enthusiasists who belong to it as intimidating and cold, and oftentimes almost otherwordly. Getting to see math in the context of real human moments like this is so inspiring. The creativity, diligence, dedication and passion, all manifesting into a moment that becomes truly spiritual is so beautiful. I research, experience and utilize visual art/music/human history/literature to drive my passion as a human being to learn and further enjoy my life, and to know that others pursue the same things through mathematics and science is so cool! We truly are builders, appreciators, puzzle and problem-solvers, creators and destroyers. I appreciate that someone can find love and fulfillment in life through something that just isn't really meant for me (:
I find it uplifting to see a man give so much to his work and get the return he so desired. Great little insight into a level of thinking way beyond my own.
The fact that he willingly keeps his office that way is revealing about his psychological profile. Typically, messy people are better at thinking “outside the box”. Their minds don’t adhere to strict rules/regulations/orderliness. You can see this manifest with his office. You could imagine his mind veering off into unique pathways that are less traveled on, thus stumbling upon his solution.
I think it’s necessary to add to what I said above. It is his non-rule-bound psychology IN CONJUNCTION WITH his obvious high mathematical intelligence that allows him to have creative solutions that no other can think of. It’s necessary to have BOTH.
@@divinegon4671 I really hate this school of thought. It encourages people to be messy even if they are clean to appear more “outside the box” of a thinker than they actually are. If a person who is INNATELY messy, they are the only people who ACTUALLY think outside the box, because it is a subconscious bias a person has that he or she will do something based on something they perceive to be a pro for them. What I am getting on is, i dislike the phrase “typically, messy are better at thinking ‘outside the box’.” It gives off the wrong idea that every messy person is an innovative thinker or if a non messy person is not an innovative thinker.
@@divinegon4671idk about that, I just think the guy spent most office time trying to solve math problems rather than spending time ordering the office. That was more of a "trade off" for an ambition of his. Equally if somebody spent their time watching Netflix rather than cleaning their space I would't call them "outsode the box thinkers".
Look at that desk. I worked for a doctor who had a desk like this and he knew exactly where anything he wanted was. What a champ. What a fantastic legacy.
This video made me cry! Very unexpectedly. It's really beautiful. He seems a very pure guy, to see the emotional side of this great work, it's this amazing duality of a little kid getting their dream through this very clever adult who has worked very hard to understand this complex stuff.
I began watching this video, as casual video. It was boring to see him talking less and thinking/gasping more. But I felt the emotions strongly from each word he said, despite it being in bad quality. It was untill I read comments that I came to know how much legendary this man and what he did is. Absolute Legend!
This, accomplishing hard tasks, is what actual happiness and fulfillment is. Not parties and hedonistic garbage. I wish more people would realize this.
He is Andrew Wiles,the mathematician. He is 70 now. He proved Fermat's Last Theorem.
Thank you!
This comment needs to be pinned.
There is nothing in the title, description, or video that says who this is or what exactly he did.
Thanks!
That is so amazing, I've heard of him but never saw this clip. THAT problem in particular has 358 years of history and he derived the first proof of it in 1994 ! Of course I think he had inspiration from previous attempts, colleagues, relevant papers, etc.; which does NOT take away at all from his achievement. So cool, watching this honestly helps remind me the joy I feel in solving problems in physics research when I get bogged down in failures
I saw this on the TV when it was first shown. I was a child, not interested in maths but as a family we used to watch Horizon was it? I knew who he was as soon as I saw the thumbnail and even remembered the name "Fermat's last theorum". It was so moving to see his absolute joy.
No margin was too small for him!
me after doing the first assignment of calculus 1:
110 likes and no comments let me fix that.
real
What are the minimum and the maximum number of likes in between comments of a channel with N subscribers and R viewers
this might be the funniest comment I've ever seen on yt
@@threeternal247then you haven't seen yt enough
People like this are real celebrities.
@@thewholething430 agree, those who seek, will find the right people anyway.
I hope I can feel this kind of fullfillment one day
@@thewholething430 On an absolute pedestal, sure, but it's important to recognize people like Andrew Wiles and hold them in high regard. Every person has flaws, but we can all seek to improve ourselves by studying the lives of the greats who lay before us.
Completely agree!
what is your definition of celebrity?
The fact that he’s grateful for doing something great, realizing the magnitude of it, and being glad he experienced that in one’s only chance on this planet. That’s something wonderful.
❤
Lil bro thinks he is him get a life
great minds realise how small they actually are compared to the true great powers of the universe
Then the internet took off and everyone became smooth brains 😂
@@calebclark5615
Lmao😂
Idk who the hell this dude is but I’m so proud of him
probably Andrew Weils, search Fermat Last Theorem
@@salim444it is Andrew Wiles
Way to go brother, that's the spirit! For real
Poor thing. I hope he got help for his anorexia.
@@sqlexp Shutup burger. Imagine being such a lardy lump of playdough that a relatively normal human is anorexic in your eyes. Go make your wife's fat roll's do that ocean wave machine thing
Me when after countless attempts to pull the door, I finally realize there is a sign that says "push"
🤣🤣🤣🤣
This will be the most relatable comment for most.
2:52
Which is what he tried at first, but it was a little sticky.
It actually goes both ways.
Much needed context. I will try my hardest to simplify this:
This story is about how one dude, Andrew Wiles (and a friend) managed to solve a proof "Fermat's Last Theorem" for x^n + y^n = z^n ; n>2 where no matter what you put in for n, the answer will NEVER EVER be whole numbers. THIS is his explanation of how he felt after he (and a friend) managed to solve this proof to PROVE that indeed any number greater than 2 for n will NEVER be a whole number.
Andrew Wiles was working on a separate proof ("Taniyama-Shemura Conjecture") where through math stuff, if you prove this proof, you'll get the Fermat's Last Theorem proven as a freebee. It took Andrew 7 years working on this alone, until one day he figured it out, and published it for peer review. Thing is, Andrew made one small mistake, and was embarrassed as a result.
So for another year after (now working with his friend), he managed to suddenly FIX the mistake he made, and also proving Taniyama-Shemura Conjecture! Thus through its mathematical relationship, he also proved that, indeed, Fermat's Last Theorem IS correct, and there is NO number you could put in n that'll give whole numbers as answers when n>2.
With that being said: I think it's awe-inspiring what Andrew Wiles did. When you're working damn hard on something, slaving away, and it just beats you down for you to come and beat it...only for it to throw one final haymaker and knock you out...only for you to beat the count and stand up to dominate it.
To me: This (romantically) taps in to something about humanity which I believe is utterly inspiring and beautiful. That we, all of us, just won't give up and despite the odds, still win. Andrew Wiles did it. He succeeded....and in a selfish way...we ALL succeed.
Thank you for being the one person who actually mentioned his name
So where does one take this amazing long labored proof of discovery to it's next logical step if there is any?
Wonderful … thank you.
@@chickey333 The only thing I can possibly think of is if you're searching for prime number answers, there's no point in using equations that have an exponent greater than 2? Maybe that? I'm not sure.
@@vjm3
Thank You... Math was never my strong suit.
The most important moment of my “working life”. A good man who knows what’s important in life.
I hope we are interpreting that equally.
true
What? Why are people here taking it out of context ?
In a wrong way
U misunderstand. Ones work is their life at this level
@@ibrahimtall6209 That's the question. Maybe he really got everything figured out and is still able to distinguish between work life and private life and is wise enough to phrase it that way in order to express that no matter what you achieve with your work life, you need private life achievements to feel complete.
Look at how fulfilled he is. So beautiful. Wish everyone could feel a sliver of that happiness.
The key word to take away from this is revelation.
@@wungabunga yup.
Try Eckhart Tolle's 'the power of now'. Or the bible. Or Dharma. It's all the same
Solving a difficult problem (especially anything related to Mathematics and Physics) gives a different level of accomplishment and gratification. I can't express it in words but it is meditative. It feels like you have actually gained something useful out of it.
Sliver?🤔 I wish to be overwhelmed and taken over by this feeling forever and ever
Only by divine grace...
The emotion he conveys when describing his epiphany is breathtaking.
Dude should be enjoying life, but he is busy solving world hunger😂
Yea they are trash
he IS enjoying life, are you blind? look at the joy he openly presents.@@MillionaireSmanga
@@MillionaireSmanga
He _was_ enjoying his life, wasn't he? And he is, as far as I can tell.
The agony experienced every other day of not knowing how to solve a problem, it is a self sacrifice. By the time a brief moment of success appears, with no one looking, is there a man left standing? Like being handed a pinch of bread after weeks starvation.
To be honest, this is how I felt when I got my high school diploma this year at age 41. Brilliantly said! I know my feat is not as impressive; i do feel content. I received a 1000.00 scholarship from it. Thank you for uploading this. It meant the world to me.
Better late than never. 🤷
Congratulations!
Have any plans on getting a PhD ?
@@oioisweetheart3500 On course.
Warmest congratulations, so well done✨️👏✨️
I notice that genuine geniuses speak very slowly, concisely and deliberately 👍
Genuine geniuses understand that genius is a spectrum and not binary, and that everyone on that spectrum is unlikely to behave the same - for every genius that speaks concisely and deliberately there's likely to be another that speaks quickly and passionately.
I can only dream of having this kind of love for something, a passion. That is what makes life truly enjoyable and the struggle a pleasure.
Passion can be found underneath fear and control, I believe.
@@kedonsiemenbeautifully said
@@kedonsiemen I don't even know what that's supposed to mean
And it's what protects your virginity.
I have found out that the less I control myself, for example based on external expectations, and the less I fear of revealing who I truly am to myself and others, the more I am connected to the whole that is me and what it needs/wants, and by following this path you'll get passion and excitement (for example procrastination for me is simply that you don't want to do something). I'm hesistant to advocate any philosophy as truth, because people, me included, are often misguided, but since you asked, this is how I feel at the moment@@yetanotherrandomyoutubecha4382
What makes me smile is how this was filmed in multiple locations, but he keeps the same level of joy when talking about this.
Great observation
Hmmmm, seems cringe 🤔
Where are your 9 years of work, rather than your probable 9 second attention span@@Loquacious_Jackson
@@Loquacious_Jacksonok jefferson
@@Loquacious_Jackson maybe you just couldn't imagine yourself with such a mindset, it makes you uncomfortable.
"Out of the ashes". Beautiful. How can you not be romantic about mathematics?
I almost teared up when Wiles described his solving of the proof. When the "LIGHT" goes off in our heads, and we arrive at an answer or solution, we sometimes forget to acknowledge them properly. So glad he was captured on film for the world to see him recount his moment of success.
how did you get a rainbow goat emoji at the end of your comment?
Bro what is that emoji? 😭😂
Why’s there a blue dragon at the end
This man solved, with indescribable geniality, a process that was long thought to have no proof. Which is Fermat's Last Theorem.
So many mathematicians who previously worked on it discouraged this man's work, but he was unshaken by this. It is hard to see a MATHEMATICIAN, of all people, getting emotional as he remembers it. The paper he published had errors that were challenged upon, but nevertheless he changed it and the answer still lied in Truth.
Like Fermat or Gauss, he became one of the greatest mathematicians to have ever lived. And he still works to this day.
I think you mean 'genius'
'geniality' means friendliness
The comparison with fermat and gauss is a little bit too much. Especially with Gauss we are talking about a man that had the basics for non euclidean geometry in his drawer but found it not worth publishing and lets not start talking about what he all did
Are you from a Slavic country?
@@smokingsnowman7838 everyone pales in comparison to Euler who wrote half of all equations that exist (metaphorically of course, but his contribution is on that level). He even contributed similarly in other fields.
As much as I admire Andrew Wiles (my interest is in the same topic he primarily used to solve Fermat's Last Theorem), comparing him with Johann Carl Friedrich Gauß is overrating him. Gauß is like the ultimate mathematician who has one of the best mathematical tuition, rigour, proficiency etc.
Edit : Gauß settled a 2000 years old question and that's not even his best work!!
Absolutely gigachad genius legendary mathematician.
at 3:16 it looks like he couldve been bodily gigachad too lol, would be a shame if those genes were replaced or dirtied by ape genes...
please never refer to a number theorist as a ''gigachad'' ever again
@@holliswilliams8426 oh you're so elitist
@@holliswilliams8426 but it's true. wiles is HIM
@@holliswilliams8426 I think it's Gen Z speak for legend, so apt here (and rather amusing).
I love how humble he appears. The passion he exhibits reminds me of my relationship with my art. I was once an artist. Very rare indeed to realize your dreams. This was quite beautiful, thank you.
I love that about him too. It’s like he’s trying to contain his happiness or perhaps, he can’t quite put it into words.
So many intelligent people are incredibly humble and peaceful. The must not make up for lack of intelligence with being obnoxious and loud.
Why'd you stop?
An artist is always an artist. Cheers
That’s what I was also thinking
This is from a BBC documentary, and I can tell you as a former BBC employee this piece is highly thought of within the Corporation, in terms of the story itself, and the film’s format/execution. It’s a beautiful and moving film, from Horizon circa 1995, initially tx’d on BBC2 I believe. It’s marvelous.
I love this man's desk organization. Truly awesome achievement (solving Fermat's Theorem... Not the desk).
I think organising his desk will be a harder problem to solve than Fermats Last Theorem 😊
I think this is pretty typical of the desk of a math professor
My dad was a math wizard. His mind lived in a realm beyond the mundane too. Understandable.
I bet his computer's desktop is organized tho
for the next 600 years, algebraic topologists would struggle to find the solution to the tangle of papers and notes. one day, a genius mathematician by the name of Windrew Ailes had an incredible breakthrough and proved that the mess was indeed physically possible in 3D space.
I’m so glad people like him exist. Without people like him, technology would not exist
OMG where would we be without technology? I think we would survive like we always have.
Technology is going too far. In the next 100 years it will completely destroy human creativity.
Not just technology, friend, but sheer thinking. Free thinking. The desire to understand and grow and develop and to be in love with education ... to know that knowledge fueled by love and passion ... it's us being closer to the divine and in tune to the natural. Fantastic.
Not everyone likes to go monke mate , also old people also used tech , as mundane as a pulley to drough out water from a well without getting inside@@guenthersteiner3311
@@guenthersteiner3311 says you commenting from you phone 😂😂😂
I've heard of Andrew Wiles before but never heard him describe the feeling of his own epiphany. What an incredible moment and what an incredible achievement
Chasing his dream. Beautiful wife to boot. He's living the life.
When this music starts playing, you know a breakthrough will be coming on the problem you are working on.
Thanks... That explain why I never have breakthrough on my problem I work on.
@@cscs9192Because you had never listened to this song before?
@@cscs9192 The secret lies in turning on music in the background xD
You should play Bach always when working on anything of importance.
Listening to Bach is a full-time job. I would not put that in the background.@@johncruser9853
I liked that he said it was the most important moment of my WORKING life. Separating working life from your life are so important.
He’s married and he’s not stupid
He just said that so his wife wouldn't bitch at him.
@@knowthycellwas about to say, the wife was in the room
he is not separating. It what you want to see. Work is all his life
Oh stop, you really think this guy wasn't thinking about math outside of literal work hours? lmao
I'm proud to be called a human. A fellow from his same species.
The 'nearest available surface' method of filing is a sure sign of genius.
"I loved every minute of it, however hard it had been" - this is what it is all about, it took me almost 23 years to realize it.
What do you mean it took you 23 years?
The secret and meaning of life
The magic you're seeking is in the work you're avoiding
@@relrond6111’The magic you are seeking is in the work you are avoiding’. Profound, at 66, I wish I had been told this when young!
@@RandomPerson28337so it is, without challenge, life can be mundane!
"I liked it. I was good at it. I was...alive"
Elliott's Revenge.
changed my life fr
Breaking Math.
@@EternalShadow1667Sir your humour is so simple and so elegant that i just laughed in disbelief for twenty minutes.
Probably the feeling I will never know.
I will probably never experience this myself, but he tells his story with so much gratitude and vulnerability that it's vicariously satisfying. It also makes me love human nature more.
I wish , that sometime somewhere in my life I can feel something like this, too.
Incredible. So happy for him
Andrew Wiles. What a great mathematician and a towering achievement.
i am not sure if i would hire him, someone who takes 7 years to solve a problem is usually a politician.
@@jackcarpenters3759 Are you being sarcastic?
@@jackcarpenters3759It was a centuries old problem
@@jackcarpenters3759 who tf are you to hire a mathematician!?
towering achievement, such a good word
"I just stared in disbelief for 20 minutes" been there, with my mouth wide open at how surprising and amazing something had been, love hearing about this.
What was it you had been staring at?
@@10draperfulporn
@@10draperfulLol
your mother had the same reaction
Whatever he feels reminds me of Nikola Tesla’s quote about how the thrill of seeing your creation unfold to success makes you forget everything even love. Just pure joy and I envy him for ever feeling it.
He brought another proof for the rest of us. That hard and persistent work on something you love can be one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.
Don't get discouraged. Sometimes it takes a long time to achieve your goals
Indeed,my friend...indeed....
😂😂 sometimes 300 years 😢
Incredibly insightful comment, I’ve never encountered such a profound pearl of wisdom before.
It takes hundreds of years for someone with my brain to achieve what I'm trying to achieve.
This is why we teach. This is why we study. This is why we never stop.
Only for little Timmy to say to his 3rd grade teacher: "math sucks, we won't need this to buy groceries"
As if buying groceries would be the most intellectual thing he'd be doing.
@professorx3060 Bruh, fronting an imaginary 3rd grader for something years of political ignorance brought us.
@@zvnpek_ Little Timmy is responsible for it all
Careful. Don't let your passion be exploited by an uncaring institution.
@@rasnaufI'm a student, and I care about this. Professors do as well. Institutions are made up of people. Academic institutions aren’t like how they’re shown on TV and politicized. STEM fields are fascinating and have lots of support. They’re what pushes the human race further and further.
Reading the explanations in the comments makes me wish I had a mathematicians brain because I have no clue why all this man’s hard work that he must have spent years on even remotely matters. I assume some of you understand why it matters, but there very well may be no amount of explanation that will ever make me understand the point of this. But I love his pride in…. whatever it is he accomplished. May you all feel that sense of pride in something you are passionate about.
same
Explorers find new places no person has ever seen before, despite the fact that the place has always existed. This is the same thing, except that new place has always existed in the human mind.
So I felt the same way so I did a little independent research and this is what I more or less understand:
He proved some century old theorem which doesn't have a ton of practical uses or applications, but the way in which he proved/solved/did it created new tools for mathematicians to use in other fields like coding and cryptography and stuff.
Im not sure about all this is 100% cuz i didnt really understand it a ton either, but thats my takeaway.
No one has a "mathematical brain". If you want to understand mathematics, study and practice doing so consistently.
This is Andrew Wiles! He solved Fermat’s Last Theorem! It’s kind of like the Pythagorean Theorem in that the square of the two sides is equal to the square of the hypotenuse so a^2 + b^2 = c^2. Fermat’s Last Theorem posits that if you try to use powers higher than 2, there are no whole numbers that you can use as a, b, and c, that could make the equation true. But nobody could find a proof for this. Andrew Wiles found a proof for it in 1994, after 300 years of the Theorem being left unsolved. I absolutely would love to talk to him about exactly how he solved it and hear it in his own words.
What he did was so groundbreaking and showed the true extent of human ingenuity and dedication. Nobody thought this problem had a proof and it took 300 years for it to come to light. I was emotional watching this video because I could clearly feel how much it meant to him because you don’t usually see mathematicians being this emotional or talkative unless they’re a teacher 🥺
You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand his joy; I was always good at math, but I really hated it and much preferred art since it was something I loved and was drawn to. Mathematics to me always felt so robotic and devoid of emotion and expression. It also didn’t help that the person who traumatized me was a math teacher.
It’s things like this that made me continue with math and led me to start liking it. I felt like I could solve problems for myself and not for others, and it’s not as depressing as I once thought. I started my course and I realised that I actually like to solve math problems, it’s fun. I have a whiteboard in my room now and I just write equations to solve for fun 😊 it’s not about having a mathematical brain, it’s about staying curious and dedicated and always open to new ideas. That will help you better absorb abstract ideas and work through math problems; most of it is strategy
I love how emotional he is at mathematics I truly love people who are experts in a discipline and it’s what keeps them going :)
A brilliant mind as well as a nice and humble person. I love how he is visibly moved when recalling the moment supreme. Great video, thanks.
Surprising to see you here instead of piano music. I've always enjoyed your recordings!
Are you also interested in mathematics?
@@annulrsolformrkelse4023 Thanks ! That's good to hear, and nice to meet a fellow piano lover out here. I'm interested in lots of things, in fact I studied maths in a previous life. But having completed this I went into software programming and have never used any maths since. It remains a special interest though.
As a learner of English I managed to understand everything this guy told. Although it wasn't hard for me now, it took many years and a lot of effort to achieve my current level. So I feel a bit like this renowned mathematician.
congrats. learning a language aint easy
Ah the spelling! The hardest part ...
That's awesome!
As someone who currently studies Korean, I can relate 😂
Congratulations! English is a really hard language to learn and any milestone on a language-learning journey is worth celebrating 🎉
Look at him while he talks about the revelation. He just sits there, unable to say anything, about to cry. And I have the immense feeling that he is about to cry of the beauty he has revealed, not because he has what would standartly described as "success". What a beautiful soul he must be.
this is so pure. its proof that we should continue doing what we we're doing even if it seems impossible
There is a most excellent book by Simon Singh, titled "Fermat's Last Theorem" which explains in understandable terms the story of Andrew Wiles' proof.
One of the best books I've read. His book on cryptography (The Code Book) is excellent as well.
Really understandable? Even for someone who did not do maths beyond high school? That would be a rare find, in my experience.
HA!! I'm not sure it's the same book but I bought one also called Fermat's Last Theorem and it made zero sense to me but damn it looked like a lot of work to get there.
I just bought the ibook version. Wish me luck!
I read that book when I was in highschool, It inspired me to study physics, however, I was not the genius I thought I was, nonetheless, it is such a rewarding career.
What *Andrew Wiles* did was that he proved the modularity theorem for semistable elliptic curves, which was already known to be enough to imply Fermat's Last Theorem. That is, like *Isaac Newton* famously said: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
Worth noting that elliptic curves power modern encryption, so the math this guy worked with wasn't just abstract theorems, but is actually embedded in virtually every software-running device in the world, also cryptocurrency
You had me at “cryptocurrency”
@@gatztopher Well, elliptic curves over Q is not related to how elliptic curve cryptography works (unless you're discussing cryptanalysis).
I hope his wife hugged and kissed him after hearing his big news, this dude definitely looks like he needed just that simple "I'm proud of you" moment.
Year 48 of semen retention be like...
😂
1:46 The guy is crazy: right after he worked for years in secret and discovered a solution to a 300 years problem, the first thing he does is "a walk outside", risking to be run over by a car or stumble and hit his head. Imagine, he could have fallen from the chair while being in disbelief for those 20 minutes, and die.
I mean, the guts.
😂😂😂😂
Exactly😂
I will not even go to toilet after winning $100 lottery😂
Interesting to think about it this way.
I kept thinking, "I hope he wrote it down! If it were me, I would have forgotten it."
He probably went for a walk in University Parks, just behind the then Oxford Mathematics Institute. You just have to cross one road, with low traffic, that's it.
Idk why and how this was suggested to me. But I'm an ungrad student and have a really really important exam on 30th January. And i was exactly struggling in maths so much. I am thinking to re learn everything and try to score as much as I can. This man is really an inspiration for me. No matter how hard it might get. I wanna do it because I love maths, i love every bit of it even if its hard. I just need to start again. I hope I'll be able to make it to a better engineering branch.
Now you have this video to come back to if you ever get discouraged again. Don’t give up! Good luck!✊🏽👍🏽
good luck!
Hope the exam went well fam
Hey how did it go
Its amazing he is talking about mathematics the whole time. He is a remarkable nerd
The satisfaction of solving a 300 year old problem. Imagine how Euler and Gauss must have felt. They have experienced this so many times in their lives. It probably became an addiction to have the feeling again and again. If I remember correctly Gauss solved a problem that no one could solve for over 2000 years, at the age of 17.
Which problem was that?
@@poornasai6985 "No progress on the unsolved problems was made for two millennia, until in 1796 Gauss showed that a regular polygon with 17 sides could be constructed" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straightedge_and_compass_construction
This is what I want in life, a passion project, something that always drags me back in, the constant pursuit of something greater. Beautiful.
try art or programming
There was still what appeared to be a minor flaw, but it turned into a major one. That was when he asked for help for the first time, and together with a colleague they finally completed the proof that stood.
This made me tear up a little, I'm so proud of him, you can feel the passion he has for his work
Average programmer after they fix syntax error after 10 houts od dvbuging that was a single comma in a wrong place:
His solution has since been canonized as "Andrew's Revelation".
This man perfectly embodies the essence of the German word for passion, Leidenschaft (which literally translates to the state of suffering). What a difficult but worthwhile journey.
Ich glaube nicht, dass das Wort aus "Leid" stammt.
@@denisg1208 Ich glaube, sowohl ‘Leiden’ im Deutschen als auch ‘passion’ im Englischen bezogen sich ursprünglich auf die physischen Leiden Christi am Kreuz. Es scheint jedoch eine Debatte darüber zu geben.
@@arrbtifn2556 lmao got 'em
@@arrbtifn2556 das Wort gibts, soweit ich weiß, schon länger als die Bibelautoren (so sagt mein graecum, das aber auch schon wieder eine weile her ist).
Der gute Gemoll (Wörterbuch) sagt dazu (verkürzt)
1. einen Eindruck erfahren...
2. Im negativen Sinne: Leiden, Leid ertragen...
3. Euphemismus für das Sterben
4. Im positiven Sinne: erfahren, genießen
@@denisg1208
Etymology
17th century, from Leiden (“suffering”) + -schaft, a calque of Latin passio. Compare Dutch lijdenschap.
From the Wiktionary article on the word Leidenschaft.
Aso vo dem her chasch du meine was du wetsch :))
I love that you used the music behind “A Beautiful Mind” for this.
Not a single ounce of bravado or conceit, just pure humility. This is one of the smartest people in the world and he calls it a privilege to work on the problem. Very inspiring. Jist goes to show that no matter how smart you are...or think you are...youre going to face challenges. So if youre working on something difficult and you start to lose hope or start to doubt yourself, just look to Andrew Wiles for inspiration. Keep chipping away at that problem or goal. It may take you years...but eventually...you will succeed!
When he stopped speaking and remembered the moment he finally cracked it. I felt it ❤
He solved math for us all so we don't have to deal with. Legend.
He invented the calculator
@@coscanoewhat?
Well done! Don’t we all wish we can feel as proud of an achievement as this guy does.
He's a good reminder of why we should continue to pursue the things that we love even if life is hard sometimes. 😊
"If you don't love it, you will fail" - Steve Jobs
What an endurance and patience this man has to solve such a great problem. I also recommend the book by Simon Singh on the fermats last theorem, for a more deep view into his life and of the problem history
the best thing a man could do is leave his positive impact in improving the world and gaining Allahs blessing by doing it
If you are not familiar with the background music it is from the movie A BEAUTIFUL MIND about the late American mathematician John Nash.
This is from the BBC Documentary on Fermat's Last Theorum by Simon Singh and no matter how many times I watch this piece I find it very moving.
Look how joyful he is. On his death bed he will think of this. Beautiful.
As someone who has always struggled with mathematics and in turn felt like an outsider to the entire subject, I've always viewed the field and the enthusiasists who belong to it as intimidating and cold, and oftentimes almost otherwordly. Getting to see math in the context of real human moments like this is so inspiring. The creativity, diligence, dedication and passion, all manifesting into a moment that becomes truly spiritual is so beautiful. I research, experience and utilize visual art/music/human history/literature to drive my passion as a human being to learn and further enjoy my life, and to know that others pursue the same things through mathematics and science is so cool! We truly are builders, appreciators, puzzle and problem-solvers, creators and destroyers. I appreciate that someone can find love and fulfillment in life through something that just isn't really meant for me (:
Love your comment!
god bless him , may he life long with grace . . . .
What a brilliant human being
thats exactly how i felt when my theoretical design worked in practice. wow the feeling of accomplishment is profound.
What was your design, and what was the problem?
its double inverse pendulum@@MelindaGreen
Im so happy for this man. Well done!
I love just how contagious his passion and joy is, truly wonderful, a gem in these times.
I find it uplifting to see a man give so much to his work and get the return he so desired. Great little insight into a level of thinking way beyond my own.
I bet it was easier to find his answer than to find anything in that office…
☠️☠️
The fact that he willingly keeps his office that way is revealing about his psychological profile. Typically, messy people are better at thinking “outside the box”. Their minds don’t adhere to strict rules/regulations/orderliness. You can see this manifest with his office. You could imagine his mind veering off into unique pathways that are less traveled on, thus stumbling upon his solution.
I think it’s necessary to add to what I said above. It is his non-rule-bound psychology IN CONJUNCTION WITH his obvious high mathematical intelligence that allows him to have creative solutions that no other can think of. It’s necessary to have BOTH.
@@divinegon4671 I really hate this school of thought. It encourages people to be messy even if they are clean to appear more “outside the box” of a thinker than they actually are. If a person who is INNATELY messy, they are the only people who ACTUALLY think outside the box, because it is a subconscious bias a person has that he or she will do something based on something they perceive to be a pro for them. What I am getting on is, i dislike the phrase “typically, messy are better at thinking ‘outside the box’.” It gives off the wrong idea that every messy person is an innovative thinker or if a non messy person is not an innovative thinker.
@@divinegon4671idk about that, I just think the guy spent most office time trying to solve math problems rather than spending time ordering the office. That was more of a "trade off" for an ambition of his. Equally if somebody spent their time watching Netflix rather than cleaning their space I would't call them "outsode the box thinkers".
not only is he obviously unbelievably intelligent, but also humble, he also has an absolutely smoking hot wife. damn. this guy is the nerd of nerds.
I am so happy and proud of this man. Mission accomplished, brother 🙏🏽
What an increadibly sweet person! He definitely deserves to be as happy as he seems to be! 😊
I was already beyond motivated to finish my current project, but this man added even more fuel to my fire
The feeling of peace you get after achieving something which you started for some low reason and gradually you get closer to it ❤.
Look at that desk. I worked for a doctor who had a desk like this and he knew exactly where anything he wanted was. What a champ. What a fantastic legacy.
We’re so lucky we got to actually film him talk about it.
Whilest watching I had no idea what exactly this was about. But it's simply beautiful to hear these moved and joyous words from this passionate dude
1:00 the way he's reliving the memory of that feeling, I can almost feel it through him
I love that it was a beautiful experience for him and made his dreams come true. You go man!
Very humble beautiful soul, God bless and thank you!
idk this dude but hes a legend
Stop.
Lmao
he won math
Yes because legends spend their time doing useless math theorems...
@@somerandomguy5977”useless” 🤡
This video made me cry! Very unexpectedly. It's really beautiful. He seems a very pure guy, to see the emotional side of this great work, it's this amazing duality of a little kid getting their dream through this very clever adult who has worked very hard to understand this complex stuff.
This is what passion actually looks like. Very rare these days. Can’t find it in me anymore either
I know the pain and anguish he went through. I felt the same after my last dump.
I began watching this video, as casual video. It was boring to see him talking less and thinking/gasping more. But I felt the emotions strongly from each word he said, despite it being in bad quality.
It was untill I read comments that I came to know how much legendary this man and what he did is. Absolute Legend!
This, accomplishing hard tasks, is what actual happiness and fulfillment is. Not parties and hedonistic garbage. I wish more people would realize this.
So true
I feel so happy for this man. Whoever he is and whatever he did.
And his wife is hot on top of all that. Helluva life this man lived
well look at him at 3:16 I mean....
@@akpokemon Fair enough
So delighted and fulfilled. Really envious of him!
I have no idea who this man is or what he's talking about but I admire his passion and can only dream of experiencing the same emotion one day.
This is passion! Is so rare!!! This means to be born for something. He was born to do math at a never seen level. He is among genius legends.