Newton or Leibniz?: a maths EPQ idea
A title to start from
Newton or Leibniz: who deserves credit for calculus, and did the dispute hold British mathematics back?
Why it works as an EPQ
Two notations for the calculus you know, a famous priority dispute and a claim about its consequences you can evaluate.
Scope and difficulty
Accessible. Accessible. Compare the methods on the same problems; use reliable historical sources.
The maths
Builds on these A Level topics: Differentiation · Integration.
You would learn:
- Fluxions and differentials
- Notation and its effect on discovery
- Using historical sources
One possible plan
- Solve the same problems in each notation.
- Set out the timeline from reliable sources.
- Examine the claim that British loyalty to Newton's notation slowed progress.
- Reach a balanced judgement.
Pitfalls
- Relying on one popular source.
- No mathematics in a history EPQ.
Where to start reading
- MacTutor History of Mathematics (University of St Andrews)
- Search for: Newton Leibniz priority dispute notation
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