Isaac Newton

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(Image Source:http://www.jimal-khalili.com/blog/the-lucasian-chair.html)


Areas of Contribution in Mathematics:

  • Calculus and Vectors
  • Rates of Change
  • Derivatives and the Applications

Contributions to Mathematics:

  • Binomial Theorem: a formula which gives the expansion of a binomial term raised to any given power
  • Calculus: a branch of mathematics which one can use to examine several elements (such as maximums and minimums) of an equation through the use of differentiation and integration

History/Fun Facts:

  • Was a poor student in school (academically as a child, and financially when he started higher education)
  • Originally went to school to study Law
  • Dabbled in Alchemy
  • During the plague, he created the Theory of Gravitation
  • Discovered the reflecting telescope
  • Studied light and optics as major fields of interest
  • Had a unfriendly relationship with Hooke
  • Made many contributions to both the fields of Mathematics and Physics throughout his life
  • Stopped publishing his work for a while as he was getting tired of having to always defend it
  • Suffered from insomnia for a portion of his life
  • Was knighted in 1705
  • Did not like interacting with other people
  • Passed away 1727

Resources:

Al-Khalili, Jim. (2009). The Lucasian Chair. In The Lucasian chair |. Retrieved March 5, 2011 from http://www.jimal-khalili.com/blog/the-lucasian-chair.html

Ministry of Education. (2007). The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12 Mathematics. Inwww.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/math1112currb.pdf. Retrieved March 4, 2011 fromhttp://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/math1112currb.pdf

Pinaire, Chris. (n.d.). Isaac Newton. In Newton. Retrieved March 5, 2011 from http://www.math.wichita.edu/history/men/newton.html

Wilkins, DR. (n.d.). Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727). In Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727). Retrieved March 5, 2011 from http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/People/Newton/RouseBall/RB_Newton.html