Who Invented Calculus?

Introduction

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Task

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to investigate the history of calculus. The controversy rages today, and we need your super sleuth and analytic mind to get to truth of the matter. Historical evidence concludes that modern calculus seems to have its origins in either Sir Isaac Newton’s or Wilhelm Gottfried Leibniz’s hands. Or maybe the answer is slightly more complicated. We don’t know! We need your help to figure it out!

You are going to need to produce a clear 2 - 3 page editorial on who should be given credit for inventing calculus. Who came up with the “main points of discovery?” Why do you conclude that?

To assist you in this daunting task, I have provided some links at the end of this description for you to peruse. Maybe they will help you... But you can also use anything (credible) you find on the web. This WebQuest will be harder than it looks, because of two things. One, there is a lot of information out there. Almost too much. And you’re going to have to sort through this information then piece together all the relevant bits. Sifting and synthesizing will be the name of the game. One thing I ask you to do in order to keep yourselves organized is to:

  • make a list of pros and cons for Newton and Leibniz, to organize your thoughts and findings.

Yes, as a serious journalist you are going to have to do some serious work. You’re going to have to pour through webpages. It might help to keep your eyes peeled for the names Newton and Leibniz (obviously).

Here are a few points of advice.

  • An editorial is an opinion. But it is one based on on a lot of (credible) supporting evidence.
  • Cite your sources for each fact you come across! I’d bookmark each webpage, so you have them somewhere in case something goes horribly, horribly wrong.

Here are some questions to think about when organizing your search — but you’re going to have dig deep to find the answers to these questions.

  • What is calculus, really? This will be useful in setting the stage.
  • Newton wrote letters to Leibniz. State one interesting thing he said. This might be useful in terms of finding supporting evidence for one position or the other.
  • When did Leibniz send a letter to Newton concerning the use of differentials?
  • What did you find to be the most interesting or surprising fact about the rise of calculus? Why is it interesting to you? If it is interesting to you, it might very well be interesting to your readers! You might want to start that out as your lead or hook.
  • What was the very first step in the rise of calculus? Does that make a difference in who gets the most credit?
  • On a timeline of the rise of calculus, what do you think was the most important fact?

 

Here are some links to useful websites in this quest:

Evaluation

EXPECTATIONS: 

You have several class periods to work alone on this online research.  Your writeup and notes will both be turned in!

Your newspaper wants the editorial to be about seven to ten, clear, substantive, typed paragraphs long (at least 2 - 3 pages, double spaced, 12 pt standard font). It should focus on who should get credit for inventing calculus — Newton or Leibniz. In order to publish, your editor needs cited, supporting evidence.

Your editor also wants the first paragraph to introduce the reader to the dispute. So you ought to include a description of (a) what is calculus and (b) the dispute in the first paragraph. (It’s a newspaper, so you don’t want to get too technical. But for simplicity’s sake, let’s assume it’s a science-based newspaper, so you can assume your audience has taken at least Pre-Calculus level Mathematics) You will then make your arguments in the second paragraph.

Your editor also wants all your notes. So if you cut and pasted and typed quotations and thoughts in a word document, or handwrote a pro-con list, your editor wants you to turn that in too. 

THE CAVEAT: Your editor is a seasoned historian, as well as someone versed in mathematics. He recognizes good writing and bad writing. Part of being a reporter on this newspaper (translation: student in this class) is learning how to clearly communicate your argument to someone else. So don’t think that your editor (teacher!) is going to throw these away without reading them. 

THE GRADE: This editorial will count as a Test Grade. So take your time on it. Here are things I will be looking for.

Does your introduction answer what calculus is? Does it clearly lay out the Newton-Leibniz debate?

Do you have clearly articulated, strong, supporting evidence for your thesis?

Are all your sources clearly cited? (Use the same format you are used to using in your English classes.) Are you getting your information from a variety (translation: at least 5) sources? You shouldn’t paraphrase or quote without citing your source. For the purposes of this assignment, it is better to err on the side of overciting than underciting.

Do you have a comprehensive “pro-con” list and additional comprehensive research notes that you turned in with your editorial?

Notice the common theme: the word "clearly"!