Yutaka Taniyama

His Own Way

Presented by:
Elizabeth Raymond
 Things to know
• Elliptical Curves-is an algebraic curve defined by an equation of
the form y^2=X^3+ax+b

• Modularity Theorum-establishes an important connection,

between elliptic curves over the field of rational numbers and
modular forms

• Fermat's Last Theorem- one of the most famous theorems in

the history of mathematics, states that:
– It is impossible to separate any power higher than the
second into two like powers,
 His Early Years
• Grew up in Kisai, near Tokyo

• Was sickly with Tuberculosis

• Graduated from the University of Tokyo

• Favorite subject: Math

– Number Theory
 His Contributions to Mathematics
• Taniyama-Shimura conjecture
– Collaborated with longtime friend, Mr. Shimura

• Also known as the modularity theorem

• Falls under Number Theory

The Taniyama-Shimura Conjecture

• Used for computing elliptic curves over

rationals
• states that any elliptic curve over Q can be
obtained via a rational map with integer
coefficients from the classical modular
curve X0(N )
• known to imply Fermat's Last Theorem
• Proven in 1999
 Taniyama-Shimura Conjecture
Continued
• one of many involving Diophantine
equations which are indeterminate
polynomial equations that allow the
variables to be numbers only

• Basically a higher form of Algebra dealing

with Elliptical Curves
 Mr. Taniyama’s Death
• Until yesterday I had no definite intention of killing
myself. But more than a few must have noticed that
lately I have been tired both physically and mentally. As
to the cause of my suicide, I don't quite understand it
myself, but it is not the result of a particular incident, nor
of a specific matter. Merely may I say, I am in the frame
of mind that I lost confidence in my future. There may be
someone to whom my suicide will be troubling or a blow
to a certain degree. I sincerely hope that this incident will
cast no dark shadow over the future of that person. At
any rate, I cannot deny that this is a kind of betrayal, but
please excuse it as my last act in my own way, as I have
been doing my own way all my life.
• November 17, 1958
• His fiance’ commited suicide about one month later
 In Conclusion
• Mr. Taniyama was a brilliant Mathmetician
• He was also;
– Depressed
– Insecure
• Who knows what discoveries he would
have made if he had lived.