2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 139
BY SENATOR HARRIS
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate St. Mary's Academy seniors Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya
Jackson for presenting their theory titled "An Impossible Proof of Pythagoras" at the
American Mathematical Society's (AMS) Annual Southeastern Conference.
WHEREAS, the two St. Mary's Academy seniors in New Orleans presented their
theory on the Pythagorean Theorem at the AMS Annual Southeastern Conference on
March 18, 2023, at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Johnson and Jackson's theory has contributed to mathematical
advancement on a conundrum that has stumped mathematicians for over 2,000 years; and
WHEREAS, the Pythagorean Theorem states that the sum of the squared sides of a
right triangle equals the length of the hypotenuse squared, in algebraic terms, written as: a²
+ b² = c²; and
WHEREAS, mathematicians believed that proving the theorem with trigonometry
would constitute a failure of logic known as "circular reasoning"; and
WHEREAS, Johnson and Jackson state that their theory proves the Pythagorean
Theorem can be proven by using trigonometry "without the circular reasoning" results; and
WHEREAS, the duo's finding may be significant considering that the standard
Pythagorean Theorem is used on an everyday basis in professions like architecture, building
construction, navigation, spaceflight, computer sciences, and more; and
WHEREAS, it is very important to celebrate and recognize that these two young
African-American women, in high school, presented their math research theory at a major
conference where most presenters are in college or above; and
WHEREAS, Catherine Roberts, executive director at AMS says, "The next step for
Johnson and Jackson is to submit their theory to a peer-review journal, where members of
the math community will examine their results to determine if their proof is a correct
contribution to the mathematics literature."; and
WHEREAS, while representing African Americans, a severely under represented
group in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, Johnson and Jackson
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plan to submit their theory to a peer-review journal, graduate this spring, and pursue
professions in environmental engineering and biochemistry; and
WHEREAS, when asked about their achievement thus far, the duo say "they are
excited just to be a part of the process because there's just nothing like being able to do
something that people don't think young people can do" and Johnson adds, "A lot of the time
you see this stuff, you don't see kids like us doing it."; and
WHEREAS, we celebrate these early career mathematicians for sharing their work
with the national mathematics community.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend and congratulate St. Mary's Academy seniors Calcea Johnson and
Ne'Kiya Jackson for presenting their theory titled, "An Impossible Proof of Pythagoras" at
the American Mathematical Society's Annual Southeastern Conference, and does hereby
record for posterity their accomplishment, and extends best wishes for continued success and
happiness in their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Ms. Calcea Johnson and Ms. Ne'Kiya Jackson.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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