In a recent review of mine on the Broadway production of the David Auburn's play, Proof starring Mary Louise Parker, I noted that while the play was witty and entertaining, it lacked substance. The play was a fictional account of the discovery of a proof to what can only be inferred is the infamous Fermat's Last Theorem. While the play played with the idea of mathematics and mathematicians, it mostly concentrated on the ideas of trust and family. I suggested that in order to find a substantial exposition about what makes math beautiful, look to the Nova special, interestingly enough called, The Proof.

At first, I thought this coincidence of names was coincidental, but with more thought, I realized that it cannot be. Auburn's play uses the same excitement for math that this Nova special uncovers, using it to serve as a backdrop for his characters to play in. However, to get the true unadulterated excitement behind the passions and joys and beauties of mathematics, you should go to the source.

In 1994, Andrew Wiles, a mathematics professor at Princeton University, let loose a bombshell in the world of mathematics that was so big, it spilled over into the world at large. He had proved Fermat's Last Theorem. Fermat�s Last Theorem was one of the great enigmas that has lasted through the ages. Pierre de Fermat was a 17th century French lawyer who liked to dabble in math. One of his math books described the following problem: In the equation c^n = a^n b^n, no integer solution exists for all n > 2. (When n=2, this is the familiar Pythagorean theorem, and there are many integer solutions: 5,3,4 for example.) (If that confuses you, that's fine, the show does a *MUCH* better job explaining than that) In the margin of this book, Fermat wrote in Latin the enigmatic message that became his legacy, Demonstrationem mirabilem. Hanc marginis exigiutas non caperet, "I have a truly wonderful proof; this margin is too small to contain it."

Three hundred years later, sequestered in his attic for 7 years, and building on the shoulders of 20th century math giants, Andrew Wiles finally proved it. The Proof tells his story. Almost entirely through a series of interviews with the pre-eminent mathematicians of the field, writer/producer John Lynch and director Simon Singh, present the story in a way accessible to anyone. Not only was I engaged (a theoretical math major at the time) but it also captivated my non-mathematical friends.

The story is one of drama, pitfalls, and even death. By careful editing, music choice, and an insistent gong, The Proof keeps the tension high. The action is revealed through the words of narrator Stacy Keach, and mathematicians such as John Conway, Barry Mazur, John Coates, and Andrew Wiles himself. You may not know these names now, but after watching, you will. Also made memorable are terms like iwaswa theory, kolyvagin, and the term Taniyama-Shimura will be forever burned in your mind.

This production brings mathematics alive. Mathematicians are not dusty old men in some history book, but excitable little boys (and girl) with a new toy. This excitement is powerful enough to motivate the action in Auburn�s Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway play. The play never cites Fermat's Last Theorem directly, but only hints, dropping terms like elliptic curve and modular forms. But to one initiated by this Nova episode, they can only mean one thing.

This production is perhaps the most exciting, engaging Nova episode I have seen. This is one of the only science shows on television to stir my heart. My problem with reading about science is that since I have had some science training, the tv shows are usually too simple, or otherwise, way too hard. The Proof manages to be appealing to all, regardless math background. See it to find out what all the fuss about mathematics is all about.

(PS, in more recent years, Nova's Trillion Dollar Bet, tried to do the same for economics that The Proof did for math. I had high hopes as this would be in my primary discipline. Alas, in that endeavor Nova fell somewhat flat.)

Links:
My original review on the play, Proof
http://www.epinions.com/content_20844809860


Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8