Teen with autism finds mistake in textbook, prompting correction

ROCKWALL, Texas -- A 15-year-old in Texas found a mistake in his geometry textbook and it prompted the book's publisher to make a correction, reports CBS Dallas-Fort Worth.

Logan Tharp, who has autism, found it strange a few weeks ago when he couldn't figure out the answer to a math problem.

"The answer seemed... it seemed wrong," Logan said.

And it was.

The teen took his concern to his teacher, who realized the mistake wasn't in his work, but in the textbook. The writers had missed a step.

"He loves math. We used to home school and he would do his brother's math workbooks just for fun," said his mother Sheri Tharp to CBS DFW.

"It's kind of easy, as subjects go," Logan added.

Logan's mother says he has had plenty of challenges in life.

"He didn't actually start speaking until he was 5," she said.

But Logan's way of thinking also helps him catch what others often miss.

Logan's parents had no idea about the textbook error until a teacher wrote them about it.

"We received a letter and an e-mail from the president of the textbook company that said we were the first to catch the mistake and they are printing new textbooks and sending them to us at no cost," the note from the teacher read.

"I'm just really proud," said Sheri Tharp through tears to CBS DFW.

Logan, though, doesn't think it's that big of a deal. But he said he doesn't mind the extra attention.

"I just thought that it was just an innocent mistake. I didn't know that we'd be here on TV ," he said.

CBS DFW reports that the school principal will award Logan a certificate, acknowledging his accomplishment.

The publisher also sent a thank you letter, which Logan's teacher has framed.