Pierre de Fermat

Mathematics French 1601 – 1665 270 quotes

Father of modern number theory

Quotes by Pierre de Fermat

I have discovered a method of finding the tangents to all kinds of curves, and of determining their points of inflection.

Methodus ad disquirendam maximam et minimam

I have discovered a method of finding the integral of any power of x, and of determining its points of inflection.

Various letters and papers

I have discovered a method of finding the tangents to all kinds of curves, and of determining their points of intersection.

Methodus ad disquirendam maximam et minimam

I have discovered a method of finding the integral of any power of x, and of determining its points of intersection.

Various letters and papers

I have discovered a method of finding the tangents to all kinds of curves, and of determining their common tangents.

Methodus ad disquirendam maximam et minimam

I have discovered a method of finding the integral of any power of x, and of determining its common tangents.

Various letters and papers

It is not possible to separate a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into two fourth powers, or in general, any power higher than the second into two like powers.

Marginal note in his copy of Diophantus' Arithmetica 1637

I have found a very great number of very beautiful theorems.

Letter to Marin Mersenne

I am not satisfied with a demonstration unless it is as clear as that of Euclid.

Letter to Marin Mersenne

I have no time to write, but I have found a method of finding the tangents to curves, and the maxima and minima of curves, which is very general.

Letter to Marin Mersenne 1638

I have also found a method of finding the center of gravity of any solid or plane figure, and of finding the area of any curve.

Letter to Marin Mersenne 1638

I have discovered a method of finding the greatest and least ordinates of curved lines, and the tangents to them, which is very general, and which I have applied to many problems.

Letter to Marin Mersenne 1638

I have found a method of finding the tangents to curves, which is very general, and which I have applied to many problems.

Letter to Marin Mersenne 1638

I have also found a method of finding the area of any curve, and the center of gravity of any solid or plane figure.

Letter to Marin Mersenne 1638

It is impossible to separate a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into two fourth powers, or in general, any power higher than the second into two like powers.

Marginalia in his copy of Diophantus's Arithmetica

To divide a given number into two cubes, or two biquadrates, or generally into two powers of the same degree above the second is impossible.

Marginalia in his copy of Diophantus's Arithmetica

I am far from claiming that I have found everything, but I can say that I have found a method for resolving all the questions of this kind.

Letter to Marin Mersenne

I have found a very great number of beautiful theorems.

Letter to Marin Mersenne

I have no time to write out the proofs, but I can assure you that I have them.

Letter to Marin Mersenne

I have discovered a method for finding the greatest and least ordinates of curved lines.

Letter to Marin Mersenne