Episode 1 of 1
Proof of Bachet's Conjecture
- When
- 1770
- Where
- Berlin
Lagrange demonstrated in 1770 that every nonnegative integer is a sum of four non-negative integer squares, resolving the long-standing conjecture.
The theorem, known as Lagrange's four-square theorem, was proven by Joseph-Louis Lagrange in 1770. This proof confirmed that the squares form an additive basis of order four. The result was a significant contribution to number theory, establishing a fundamental property of integer representations.
Sources
- Lagrange's four-square theorem Wikipedia, revision of 2026-05-24
- Joseph-Louis Lagrange Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-29
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.