Calculus from a Historical Perspective · Fall 2024
MAT 4390 / MHF 6410
Course Information
- CourseMHF 6410-001 — Calculus from a Historical Perspective
- Credit Hours3
- CRN14846
- TermFall 2024 (Full Term)
- FormatFully online
Instructor
Description
This course studies selected topics in calculus from a historical point of view, emphasizing how major ideas developed over time and how earlier methods can illuminate modern concepts. Topics may include Archimedes’ quadrature of the parabola, classical approaches to computing π, Bernoulli numbers, and sums of powers of integers. We will follow the historical progression from early geometric insights through the creative breakthroughs of the 17th century and the later development of rigorous foundations, using this narrative to deepen understanding of the calculus and its core techniques.
Most course business will be handled on the Canvas site.
Required Text: The Calculus Gallery (Princeton University Press). (ISBN: 9780691182858 or 9780691184548)