The Thrilling Story Of Calculus
Starring Isaac Newton, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Abraham Robinson.
The story of calculus is seldom told in schools. Most students learn calculus as a rigid block of algorithms. Because of its seeming abstractness and lifelessness, the majority of students never build any meaningful connection with this creative branch of mathematics. However, the real story behind calculus is anything but abstract and lifeless. If calculus students were to learn the subject from its roots (history), they would grasp the true life and beauty behind this ingenious human invention.
Just to set things straight: this article is not about the mathematics of calculus. It is about the people and the story behind its invention. The two major characters to be featured in this story will be Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. As we unwind through the twists and turns of the story, there will be a key cameo role played by Abraham Robinson. Without further ado, let us begin!
The English Polymath
Our story starts with the birth of Isaac Newton. Newton was born to a middle-class, misfortune-struck Lincolnshire family on Christmas day in 1642. Newton had lost his father three months before his birth and was a premature child. As he grew up, he faced difficulties with…
