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{\bf Jason Bandlow}
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{\bf An Elementary Proof of the Hook Formula}
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The hook-length formula is a well known result expressing the number
of standard tableaux of shape $\lambda$ in terms of the lengths of the
hooks in the diagram of $\lambda$.  Many proofs of this fact have been
given, of varying complexity.  We present here an elementary new proof
which uses nothing more than the fundamental theorem of algebra.  This
proof was suggested by a $q,t$-analog of the hook formula given by
Garsia and Tesler, and is roughly based on the inductive approach of
Greene, Nijenhuis and Wilf.  We also prove the hook formula in the
case of shifted Young tableaux using the same technique.

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