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    $\begingroup$ And on the other hand if the margin had been big enough to contain Fermat’s proof… $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 11, 2025 at 4:03
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    $\begingroup$ If not Fermat, Euler surely would have come to this equation himself, wouldn't he? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 11, 2025 at 8:25
  • $\begingroup$ @liuyao Let me speculate too - he would hardly create that much suspense around it: he was admired for so many different things... Besides, that's already one century of a time distance $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 11, 2025 at 12:02
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    $\begingroup$ @HollisWilliams The tools we used need not be the only possible tools; the folklore, as I understand it, is that maybe Fermat had some really clever tool that's sitting just outside sight for all of us. I personally agree that it's unlikely, but not impossible. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 14, 2025 at 20:31
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    $\begingroup$ @liuyao Coming up with it is one thing, but getting interested in it is another. Gauss said that he didn't find FLT very interesting because one could easily generate tons of similar intractable questions. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 15, 2025 at 18:37