His reputation as one of the leading mathematicians in the world came quickly but attempts to get his work published failed mainly because Fermat never really wanted to put his work into a polished form. However some of his methods were published, for example Hérigone added a supplement containing Fermat's methods of maxima and minima to his major work Cursus mathematicus.
Kanyang reputasyon bilang isa sa mga nangungunang mathematicians sa mundo ang mabilis na dumating ngunit pagtatangka upang makakuha ng kanyang trabaho-publish Nabigo ang pangunahin dahil Fermat hindi talagang nais na ilagay ang kanyang trabaho sa isang makintab na form. Subalit ang ilan sa kanyang mga pamamaraan ay nai-publish, halimbawa Hérigone nagdagdag ng madagdagan containing Fermat's pamamaraan ng maxima at minima sa kanyang mga pangunahing gawain Cursus mathematicus.