Fermat, Pierre de

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Fermat, Pierre de (1601–65) French mathematician. With Pascal, Fermat formulated the theory of probability and, by showing that light travels along the shortest path (Fermat's principle), founded the science of geometric optics. In mathematics, he is known for his development of modern number theory. It was recently discovered that differential calculus, thought to have been invented by Newton, was actually communicated to Newton in a series of letters from Fermat.

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