Conjectures in Arithmetic Algebraic Geometry: A Survey

In this expository text we sketch some interrelations between several famous conjectures in number theory and algebraic geometry that have intrigued math­ ematicians for a long period of time. Starting from Fermat's Last Theorem one is naturally led to introduce L­ functions, the main, motivation being the calculation of class numbers. In partic­ ular, Kummer showed that the class numbers of cyclotomic fields play a decisive role in the corroboration of Fermat's Last Theorem for a large cla...