Here’s How Two New Orleans Teenagers Found a New Proof of the Pythagorean Theorem

An inspirational example of how elementary math is open to everyone

Recently, two teenage girls — Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson — gave a presentation to the American Mathematical Society where they demonstrated a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem. Their proof has caused quite a stir.

One reason for the stir delights me and makes me incredibly happy as a teacher of mathematics. By all accounts, these two teenage math…