Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716), a German philosopher, mathematician, and logician who created differential and integral calculus, independently of Sir Isaac Newton, in the 1670s. He introduced several notations used in calculus to this day; for instance, the integral sign '?', representing an elongated 'S' from the Latin word summa, and the d used for differentials from the Latin word differentia. Leibniz is credited with the term "function" (1694), which he used to describe a quantity related to a curve, such as a curve's slope or a specific point on a curve. Leibniz constructed the first mechanical calculator capable of multiplication and division. He also developed the modern form of the binary numeral system, used today in digital computers.
Further Reading
University of St. Andrews, Scotland, School of Mathematics and Statistics. Leibniz Biography.
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Cutler Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 21, 2008; Last revised Date August 21, 2008; Retrieved May 24, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Leibniz,_Gottfried_Wilhelm>
The Author
Editor-in-Chief
The Encyclopedia of Earth Cutler J. Cleveland is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. Dr. Cleveland is currently a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Boston University, with joint appointments in the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies and the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future. He also is a Senior Fellow at the National Council for Science and the Environment in Washington D.C. Dr. Cleveland is als ... (Full Bio)
Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716), a German philosopher, mathematician, and logician who created differential and integral calculus, independently of Sir Isaac Newton, in the 1670s. He introduced several notations used in calculus to this day; for instance, the integral sign '?', representing an elongated 'S' from the Latin word summa, and the d used for differentials from the Latin word differentia. Leibniz is credited with the term "function" (1694), which he used to describe a quantity related to a curve, such as a curve's slope or a specific point on a curve. Leibniz constructed the first mechanical calculator capable of multiplication and division. He also developed the modern form of the binary numeral system, used today in digital computers.
Further Reading
University of St. Andrews, Scotland, School of Mathematics and Statistics. Leibniz Biography.
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz. (Source: UNCW)
Contact Us
Send to a Friend
Comments
There are no comments.