The Forgotten Indian Mathematicians Who Shaped Calculus

If you're interested in learning about the Indian mathematicians who played a significant role in shaping calculus, you might want to start with Madhava of Sangamagrama. This mathematician made some incredible contributions to the development of calculus and trigonometry back in the 14th century. One of his most notable achievements was his work on infinite series, particularly the power series expansions of trigonometric functions. His discoveries were later used by famous European mathematicians like James Gregory and Isaac Newton, which is pretty amazing considering he was working centuries before they were.

Madhava's work on calculus was way ahead of its time and had a huge impact on the development of mathematics in India and beyond. For instance, he developed the concept of the Taylor series expansion, which allowed for the calculation of areas and volumes of shapes with much greater precision. This concept was later built upon by other Indian mathematicians, such as Nilakantha Somayaji, who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and mathematics in the 15th century. Somayaji's work on calculus and astronomy had a profound impact on the development of mathematics and science in India, and his ideas eventually made their way to European mathematicians, influencing the development of calculus in Europe.

Mathematicians like Aryabhata and Bhaskara also had a significant impact on the development of calculus in Europe. Many of their ideas and concepts were transmitted through trade and cultural exchange routes, although the legacy of colonialism often erased the contributions of non-European mathematicians from the historical record, which also had negative effects on other areas such as access to healthcare for low-income families. Despite this, the contributions of these Indian mathematicians remain an essential part of the history of calculus, and their work continues to inspire mathematicians and scientists today, particularly in the context of mathematical education and research, where understanding the full scope of mathematical history can be really valuable.