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Teenagers Discover New Proofs for Ancient Math Puzzle
Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson, former high school students, have astonished the math community with their innovative ways of proving the Pythagorean Theorem using trigonometry. They have developed five proofs, along with a method for generating five additional ones. One of their proofs was recently published in the American Mathematical Monthly journal.
Their journey began during a high school math contest, where they were tasked with creating a new proof for the Pythagorean Theorem using trigonometry. They dedicated countless hours to developing their ideas and ultimately presented their work at an American Mathematical Society conference.
Their work has garnered praise from experts, who recognize the value of fresh perspectives in math. The students credit their teachers and St. Mary’s Academy for fostering their mathematical growth.
While neither Johnson nor Jackson plan to pursue careers in math directly, they hope their accomplishments inspire other young women and students of color to pursue their passions in STEM fields. They emphasize that success in math is not reserved for geniuses but is accessible to anyone with determination and a supportive environment.