Sam Tagle

7th Period
5/15/16
Trenfield

The Development of Calculus

Mathematics is often questioned when it can be applied in real life. The answer to that
question is that often no, math will not be used outside of school in the real world. However,
there is one branch of mathematics that is very useful to learn. Calculus is a type of mathematics
taught primarily to high school students in the eleventh and twelfth grade. This subject has major
contributions to its development, and also has a reason why it is taught in schools today.
The definition of calculus is an advanced branch of mathematics that deals mostly with
rates of change and with finding lengths, areas, and volumes according to
merriam-webster.com. When the satellite, Sputnik, was launched into space by the Soviet Union,
the United States was afraid of what else the Soviets could do. The US added calculus into
school curriculums so that students would learn it, and eventually learn rocket science. In this
way, the US would be able to keep up with the Soviet Unions advancements in technology.
However, the United States was not responsible for the creation of calculus. Schools today also
teach geometry and algebra to prepare students entering calculus classes and other advanced
mathematics courses.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Isaac Newton were both major contributors to the creation
of calculus. Both Leibniz and Newton discovered calculus on their own, even though Newton
discovered it about eight years before Leibniz. When Newton discovered his theory, he decided
not to share it with the public, while Leibniz did the opposite and shared his findings. Leibniz
was given the title of first to publish ideas of calculus, while Newton was given the title for first
to discover it. However, they both found the same properties that are taught in classrooms today.
The significance of studying calculus is that it shows how things change. Teaching
calculus in schools greatly affects students and their mathematical abilities in a positive way.
Learning calculus improves ones ability to perform mathematical functions, and can also
prepare them for college-level math classes. Also with this skilll, they can learn to apply their
knowledge to real life situations in careers after college. Lots of industries or businesses use
calculus to find how things will change to maximize profit, revenue, etc.
In conclusion, calculus is a very important part of mathematics, because it calculates how
things change. Gottfried Leibniz and Isaac Newton both contributed greatly to the development
of calculus, having both discovered it individually. It is also taught in schools today because of
the United States and its need for rocket scientists during the Soviets launch of Sputnik.
Learning calculus is essential for students to learn to improve their skills in mathematics.
 Work Cited

Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 15 May 2016.

"Newton - 17th Century Mathematics - The Story of Mathematics." Newton - 17th Century
Mathematics - The Story of Mathematics. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2016.

"Why Studying Calculus Is Important- Even If You Don't Use It - The Other Side of Science."
The Other Side of Science. 2013. Web. 15 May 2016.