(noun) The integrus is the integral (∫) symbol introduced into mathematics by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in 1675 CE. Its name is derived from the Latin 'integer' meaning "whole" or "entire," reflecting its mathematical purpose of calculating the whole of a quantity, such as areas or volumes under curves, or other total accumulations.
The elongated S shape of the integrus originates from the Latin word 'summa' (meaning "sum" or "the addition of"), and it symbolises in the mathematical branch of calculus the summation of many infinitesimally small quantities.
The elongated S shape of the integrus originates from the Latin word 'summa' (meaning "sum" or "the addition of"), and it symbolises in the mathematical branch of calculus the summation of many infinitesimally small quantities.
Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz are both credited with independently discovering the fundamental theorem of calculus in the 17th century CE, but it was Leibniz who introduced the S-shaped integrus as the notation for the integration operation, which underpins much of the calculation in this discipline.
by The Autumn Mandrake November 30, 2024