"Give me the name of any mathematical theorem" If this question were to be asked to random people, most would answer "Pythagorean Theorem." Although not all who respond know precisely what Pythagorean Theorem is nor how to prove it, the chance is that an average person who completed middle and high school education would have at least heard of the theorem's name.

Due to its well-known nature, many mathematicians attempted and succeeded in proving it through various unique ways: Euclidean method, Pythagorean method, Baskara's method, Garfield's method, and much more. There even is a book named "100 Different Pythagorean Theorem Proofs". 

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/high-school-students-may-just-164645883.html?

However, despite such a long list of methods to prove the theorem, none uses trigonometry since the most fundamental theory of trigonometry - sin2+cos2=1 - is confirmed by the Pythagorean theorem that using trigonometry to prove the Pythagorean theorem would cause a circular logic. Even the most intelligent mathematicians for the last 2000 years considered it impossible to use trigonometry to demonstrate the Pythagorean theorem successfully and named the nonexistent proof the "Impossible Proof." 

However, on March 18th, two high school students, Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson, seniors at St. Mary's Academy in New Orleans, presented proof of the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry at the American Math Society's (AMS) Spring Southeastern Sectional Meeting. The evidence still needs to be released to the public since it is still being reviewed by mathematicians from AMS. Still, regardless, it is astonishing that two high school students who started their studies during a high school geometry class suggested proof that was impossible for thousands of years. 

The proof is expected to add another proof of the Pythagorean theorem to the long existing list and introduce an original aspect of trigonometry's fundamental theorems. 

김강민 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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