In an exciting development in the field of mathematics, two US college students have discovered five new ways to prove the famous Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry. This theorem, which dates back over 2,000 years, states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the longest side) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. This can be summarized with the formula a² + b² = c².
Previous Achievements
In 2022, college students Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson made headlines when they discovered a new proof for the theorem. Now, they have further impressed the math community by publishing five different solutions in the American Mathematical Monthly journal.
New Proofs and Their Significance
Previously, many mathematicians attempted to prove the theorem using algebra and geometry, but using trigonometry was thought to be impossible. Johnson and Jackson achieved this remarkable feat without relying on circular reasoning, something that had eluded even professional mathematicians in the past.
Their latest work includes a method that generates five additional proofs, bringing the total to ten unique proofs of the Pythagorean theorem. Until now, only one proof had been recognized, making the other nine completely new contributions to mathematical knowledge.
Students’ Reactions
“I was pretty surprised to be published. I didn’t think it would go this far,” Jackson expressed in a news release.
Johnson added, “It’s very exciting for me because I know when I was growing up, STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] wasn’t really a cool thing. So the fact that all these people are interested in STEM and mathematics really warms my heart and makes me excited for how far STEM has come.”
Recognition and Future Plans
The journal’s editor, Della Dumbaugh, praised the authors for trusting the Monthly with their important results and acknowledged the efforts of the Editorial Board in refining their work for publication.
Interestingly, despite their talent in mathematics, neither Johnson nor Jackson plans to pursue a career in math. Jackson is currently studying pharmacy at Xavier University in New Orleans, while Johnson is focusing on environmental engineering at Louisiana State University. Their achievements highlight the exciting possibilities within STEM fields and inspire future generations to explore mathematics and science.
