Portrait of Lord Melvyn Bragg, host of In Our Time

History of calculus

Calculus, originally called infinitesimal calculus, is a mathematical discipline focused on limits, continuity, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. Many elements of calculus appeared in ancient Greece, then in China and the Middle East, and still later again in medieval Europe and in India.

2 episodes

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  1. Bishop Berkeley

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the philosopher George Berkeley, one of the most significant thinkers of the 18th century.

    20 March 2014

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    Featuring: Peter Millican, Tom Stoneham, Michela Massimi

     
  2. Calculus

    Melvyn Bragg and guests Patricia Fara, Simon Schaffer and Jackie Stedall discuss the dispute between Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz over who invented calculus.

    24 September 2009

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    Featuring: Simon Schaffer, Patricia Fara, Jackie Stedall