Can one use origami to model the fundamental concepts of calculus? I think so. Can one use folded paper and wooden toys to illustrate a masterpiece of mathematical writing? I am working on it!
I gave a talk recently to a small group of mathematicians with an interest in the history of mathematics (the Philadelphia Area Seminar on the History of Mathematics). This is part of a project, long in gestation, which I call "Leibniz and the Birth of Calculus". I have assembled a set of origami models, wooden machines, and various sculptures, to be displayed alongside a book which was printed in 1684. The book includes a groundbreaking paper by G. W. Leibniz (Nova Methodus Pro Maximus et Minimus). In the talk, I discuss Leibniz's paper in detail. Excruciating detail? Well, the talk is not for everyone, even though the display "Leibniz and the Birth of Calculus" is for anyone--anyone who is curious. I was speaking to history-of-math people, so I focused on what they might most appreciate. Nonetheless, I wanted to share this link, in case origami fans are interested: https://youtu.be/EpZgkFp-rLo?si=TRotob-YD4apPuMA (Note that I made a few mistakes. The slide about dx has a quote from a late 17th century calculus textbook and I should have written "Definition II" not "Postulate I". Further, I would not call myself a math enthusiast. I would call myself an enthusiast of Nova Methodus. All that I know about mathematics I learned from this one seven page paper, or perhaps I should say what I know about mathematics I learned in order to understand this seven page paper. I was not a math student in college. Neither was Leibniz, actually, but that is a different story.) Cliff Cliff Landesman, PhD https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/event/locke-unlocked
