# Fermat's little theorem

> English word · Proper noun

## Definitions
1. The theorem that, for any prime number p and integer a, aᵖ-a is an integer multiple of p.

## Etymology
Named after French lawyer and amateur mathematician Pierre de Fermat (1601–1665), who stated a version of the theorem in a letter in 1640. Called little to distinguish it from Fermat's Last Theorem.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fermat-s-little-theorem