Ne’Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson of Louisiana published a new study proving the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, a feat mathematicians long thought could not be done
Using trigonometry, they had to create a new proof of the Pythagorean theorem, the 2,000-year-old rule that explains the relationship between the lengths of sides on a right triangle. No one told the teenagers that mathematicians had long considered this task “impossible.”
and THEN casually mention:
Two people had previously proved the theorem using trigonometry: Jason Zimba in 2009 and Nuno Luzia in 2015.
In the article they state:
and THEN casually mention:
WTF?
Well, hate to do this, but all the phrasing is in the past tense.
Considered, long thought, etc.
But, they created a NEW proof. And considering it took 2 thousand years for 2 others to do it…
So there is that.
I was just wondering the same. Plus, what kind of high school if high school offers prize money on a bonus assignment that’s THOUGHT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE