Calculus is a section in mathematics that can also be referred to as infinitesimal calculus that is mainly focused on integrals, infinite series functions and limits. Most of the ideas and notions in the history of calculus were invented by various mathematicians in the seventeenth century. These ideas were closely related hence summarized together to ensure that the current calculus is simple to integrate and calculate. However, much credit is attributed to Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz whose ideas although different but were essential in developing diverse functions in calculus (Stewart 112).
The innovation of calculus is usually related to two distinct men, Leibniz Gottfried and Isaac Newton who had different foundations and notions in the subject. Even though the contributions from both men were significant, the concepts were different. While Leibniz Gottfried thought of calculus as variables X and Y in sequence representing close values, Isaac Newton based his calculus on variables that constantly changed with time (Woodhouse 117). For Leibniz Gottfried he analyzed calculus in an analysis format while Newton based his notions in a geometrical aspect.
Isaac Newton contributed to various concepts in Calculus thus made it very simple for the other inventors in the same field to obtain an open filed to even more vital functions in Calculus. Newton first came into calculus inventions when working with geometry and physics. According to his studies and inventions, Isaac Newton viewed calculus as systematic approach to the generation of magnitude and motion (Stewart 143). This is the key concept that actually makes Isaac Newton’s notions concerning calculus to be very diverse from that of Leibniz.
Leibniz on the other hand, focused his notions mainly on tangent problems which actually originated from his believe that metaphysical change in mathematics is simply explained by calculation of calculus. The diverse ideas between the two mathematicians should neither be underappreciated or overemphasized since up to date, the notions are vital in the calculation of calculus integrals. The key difference between both the notions derived by Isaac Newton and Leibniz is that Newton focused on integrals while Leibniz based his discovery on differentiation (Woodhouse 131). Leibniz Gottfried also ensured that all his work was published and distributed. This made his ideas concerning calculus to be wide spread as compared to Newton’s inventions.
In the current history of calculus, various inventors are mentioned emphasis given to the most important mathematicians such as Isaac Newton and Leibniz. However, other contributions from other creditable sources are also used to ensure that new concepts in calculus are not ignored. This has been very vital in the current calculations and functions in calculus hence making it particularly simple for calculus problems to be solved. From my opinion, all the inventions in calculus are very vital since each new notion makes it simpler for calculus problems to be solved with minimal computation. Without contributions from either Isaac Newton or Gottfried and Wilhelm Leibniz, it would be completely difficult for the calculations to be solved in calculus (Guinness & Bos 92). For this reason, I do not incline on one man’s invention or contribution in calculus since the more the different invention are completed, the more it is simple to compute calculus calculations.
Works Cited
Guinness, Grattan & Bos, H. From the calculus to set theory, 1630-1910: an introductory
history, London: Princeton University Press, 2000. Print.
Stewart, James. Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, California: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
Woodhouse, Robert. A history of the calculus of variations in the eighteenth century, New York:
American Mathematical Soc, 2004. Print.
