Learning and Teaching Calculus Through Its History

TL;DR

This paper advocates teaching calculus through its historical development, emphasizing the evolution of core concepts across cultures to enhance student understanding and appreciation.

Contribution

It introduces a historical approach to calculus education, integrating diverse cultural mathematical ideas to deepen conceptual understanding.

Findings

Students gain a broader perspective on calculus concepts.

Historical context improves engagement and comprehension.

Cultural exchange influenced the development of calculus ideas.

Abstract

This paper frames calculus as a global, centuries-long development rather than a subject that began only with Newton and Leibniz. Drawing on ideas from Greek, Indian, Islamic, and later European mathematics, it highlights how concepts like infinity, area, motion, and continuous change slowly evolved through solving problems and cultural exchange. I argue that bringing this history into the classroom helps students see calculus as more than a set of procedures: it becomes a story of human creativity and persistence. By revisiting the questions early mathematicians struggled with, students can better appreciate and better understand the core ideas behind the formulas they use today.