Calculus, the branch of mathematics concerned with the calculation of instantaneous rates of change (differential calculus) and the summation of infinitely many small factors to determine some whole (integral calculus). Two mathematicians, Isaac Newton of England and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz of Germany, are credited with independently developing calculus in the 17th century. Calculus is now the primary entry point for anyone wishing to study physics, chemistry, biology, economics, finance, or actuarial science. Calculus makes it possible to solve problems as simple as figuring out the position of the space shuttle or predicting the pressure behind a dam as water rises. Computers have become a valuable tool for solving calculus problems that were once thought to be impossibly difficult.
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