Newton and Mathematics

Sir Issac Newton (1642-1727), though is largely attributed towards the advancement in physics, was a key contributor to the advancement of mathematics as well. It is said that the beginning of his education focused on law and it was not until he picked up an astrology textbook in which he did not understand the mathematics contained in it, that he became interested in math. Newton - though proclaimed to be predominantly self-taught - studied underneath mathematicians such as William Oughtred and John Wallis, and Descartes. He is greatly known for contributions such as differentiation and integration, at the time known as method of fluxions and inverse method of fluxions (later on Leibniz would ultimately define these methods as differentiation and integration).

The famous Leibniz vs. Newton dispute concerned who exactly came up with these fundamental calculus ideas. Followers of Newton claimed that Leibniz had glimpsed Newton's notes of his fluxions in 1676 during a visit which then lead to Lebniz publishing this pleigerized work in 1684, stealing the thunder from Newton.

Newton also came up with the Binomial Theorem, which states,

General Form: 

He discovered such a way to expand any binomial, fractions, complex, etc., when he exiled himself to keep from contracting the plague. His general form contains works of Pascal in which (n  / k) relates to numbers in Pascal's Triangle. The general Binomial Theorem form is present on Newton's tombstone in Westminster Abbey.