At St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, a math contest posed a challenging bonus question, asking students to create a new proof for the Pythagorean Theorem using trigonometry, a task believed to be impossible for centuries. Seniors Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson took on the challenge and eventually submitted innovative proofs, inspiring their teachers to encourage further exploration. Their achievement gained global attention but also drew racist criticism. Nevertheless, the school, with its tradition of empowering black women, continues to foster success stories like theirs.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/high-school-students-pythagorean-theorem-trigonometry-proof-60-minutes
