Fluxions

/ˈflʌkʃənz/ noun

Definition

Plural of fluxion; multiple instances of flowing; in mathematics, multiple rates of change of different variables.

Etymology

Regular plural of 'fluxion.' Newton's 'Method of Fluxions' was his term for calculus, so 'fluxions' refers to the collection of mathematical tools he developed.

Kelly Says

Newton's 'Method of Fluxions' was a complete calculus system, but his notation was so confusing that Leibniz's cleaner system eventually won—sometimes the better idea loses to better marketing.

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