Two High School Students Successfully Solved a Math Puzzle that Has Perplexed Scholars for Over Two Millennia
Source: CBS News
Introduction:
In a bid to foster creativity, Michelle Blouin Williams, a math teacher at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, spearheaded a school-wide math contest with a formidable challenge: to devise a new proof for the Pythagorean Theorem using trigonometry. The theorem, a cornerstone of geometry, has long stumped scholars with its complexities, deemed unsolvable via trigonometry for nearly two millennia.
Story Overview:
- In December 2022, two seniors, Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson, embraced the challenge, enticed by the $500 prize.
- The duo ventured to present their work at a mathematics conference and continued their exploration into further proofs even as they embarked on college life.
- Their unprecedented accomplishment garnered global attention, was lauded by figures like Michelle Obama, and was recognised with commendations from local authorities.
- However, amid the celebration, St. Mary’s Academy president Pamela Rogers revealed the disturbing reality of the racist backlash the students faced.
- Despite the adversity, St. Mary’s Academy remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering black women, a tradition dating back to its establishment after the Civil War.
Conclusion:
Their success underscores the school’s belief that every student, irrespective of background, can achieve greatness. As Johnson and Jackson embark on their respective academic paths, they exemplify the school’s ethos of resilience and excellence, inspiring future generations to defy expectations and reach new heights.
To read more, click the link: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/two-high-school-students-successfully-solved-a-math-puzzle-that-has-perplexed-scholars-for-over-two-millennia/
Source of image: CBS News
