tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227172931607686978.post6196617823254356302..comments2023-08-05T07:54:36.424-04:00Comments on Math-Frolic!: Fermat and Factoring"Shecky Riemann"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07065658607024191185noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227172931607686978.post-7446397031431432512016-01-19T20:53:40.239-05:002016-01-19T20:53:40.239-05:00It is not that surprising if we assume that Fermat...It is not that surprising if we assume that Fermat used what we call Fermat's factoring method. Upon multiplying by the cofactor of 8 (and using difference of pronic numbers instead of squares since the number is now even) he would find this pair of factors on the first try. (I am assuming that taking the square root of a 12-digit number was feasible. Also, I have no idea how difficult it Walthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05235362518037728416noreply@blogger.com