| The very definition of the word calculus is | | | | simultaneous to Newton's work) pushed the |
| derived from a mineral build-up and means | | | | knowledge of calculus to level that were |
| "hard". The Mathematical term of calculus | | | | unthinkable at the time. He was not only a |
| describes a field that is a theoretical | | | | mathematician. He started with the study of |
| offshoot of algebra that attempts to define | | | | Latin and Greek. Shortly thereafter, he |
| the way in which events will change over | | | | began the study of Law, but more relevant was |
| time. Calculus is used to determine the | | | | his travel to Paris later in his life. It is |
| slope of a variable, or chosen identity, and | | | | here that he met the famous mathematician |
| how its rate of change may change over time. | | | | Huygens who routed the genius of Leibnitz |
| The calculations usually produce a curve or | | | | toward the study of mathematics in general |
| graphical presentation rather than a discreet | | | | and to geometry in particular. It was he that |
| sum and the information is read from points | | | | developed the theories of Integrated and |
| in the curve, which reflect the rates of | | | | Differential Calculus, which remained largely |
| change. There are relatively simply calculus | | | | unused until the complexity of the twentieth |
| theorems that will allow the calculation of | | | | century brought these disciplines to the |
| how often the phone will ring over the next | | | | forefront. Differential calculus was then |
| month, or a how a population of deer will | | | | used in determining the rates of velocity, |
| grow in the upcoming years. | | | | mass and was useful in the trajectory of |
| | | | rockets. Fourier calculations are based upon |
| There is also a more scary side though: | | | | integral calculus. Integral calculus was |
| Calculus is a deep theoretical math field | | | | used to determine the rate at which the door |
| that had foundations settled in the 18th | | | | on the space shuttle can close. |
| century by the brightest math minds of | | | | |
| history (Gauss, Euler, Lagrange, etc). It | | | | Even though Leibnitz and Newton's |
| passed from an empirical set of rules to a | | | | contribution represented a major |
| formal discipline with deep theoretical | | | | breakthrough, we cannot forget the strong |
| foundations. That's why students typically | | | | foundation laid down by the Greek, at ancient |
| find difficulties when taking calculus | | | | times. It is thought that at this time, |
| courses and they see themselves forced to | | | | Exodius developed the Method of Exhaustion |
| seek for help. | | | | that contains rudiments of modern calculus. |
| | | | When you find that the Methods of Exhaustion |
| The biggest breakthrough in calculus history | | | | are directly applying to yourself, it is time |
| was made by a German genius called Gottfried | | | | to seek help with Calculus. |
| Leibnitz, whose work (which was parallel and | | | | |