High School Students Prove Pythagorean Theorem Using Trigonometry

Two high school students from St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans have made headlines for their groundbreaking achievement in the world of mathematics. Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson have managed to prove the Pythagorean Theorem using only trigonometry, a feat that even seasoned mathematicians thought was impossible.

The challenge was presented to the students by their math teacher, Michelle Blouin Williams, who was more interested in seeing their ingenuity than in finding a solution. Despite initially being motivated by the $500 cash prize, Jackson and Johnson dedicated months to the task and eventually succeeded.

Their remarkable success has not gone unnoticed, as their story was featured on “60 Minutes” and caught the attention of former NBA star Charles Barkley. Barkley was so impressed by the girls’ achievement that he promised to make a $1 million donation to the all-girls Catholic elementary and high school.

Both Johnson and Jackson have since graduated from St. Mary’s, but their pride in their accomplishment will last a lifetime. Reflecting on their achievement, Johnson expressed, “It’s an unparalleled feeling, honestly, because there’s just nothing like it, being able to do something that people don’t think that young people can do.”

Their story serves as a reminder that with dedication, hard work, and a little bit of ingenuity, anything is possible, even solving complex mathematical equations that have stumped experts for centuries.