Did President Garfield really come up with an alternate proof?

[swampwiz]

I'm talking about the Pythagorean Theorem, which seems to have an alternate proof attested to him!

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT668/EMT668.Student.Folders/HeadAngela/essay1/Pythagorean.html

 

[Borg]

It appears to be true:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield#Legal_career_and_other_activities

In 1876, Garfield displayed his mathematical talent when he developed a trapezoid proof of the Pythagorean theorem. His finding was placed in the New England Journal of Education. Mathematics historian William Dunhamwrote that Garfield's trapezoid work was "really a very clever proof."[119]

 

[Mark44]

I'm talking about the Pythagorean Theorem, which seems to have an alternate proof attested to him!

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT668/EMT668.Student.Folders/HeadAngela/essay1/Pythagorean.html

Apparently Garfield did come up with an alternate proof. See https://www.maa.org/press/periodica...-a-garfields-proof-of-the-pythagorean-theorem
The Mathematical Assoc. of America is a long-standing organization.

 

[TeethWhitener]

Garfield was really a fascinating character. For anyone who's interested, I highly recommend the book "Destiny of the Republic" by Candice Millard.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10335318-destiny-of-the-republic