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I am taking calculus course and I keep wondering if this is really necessary. I know it is the cornerstone of modern science but what I don't understand is why and how.

Was it impossible to pursue physics and engineering had calculus not been invented, or without it being applied? What exactly has calculus opened up for us that pre calculus math hadn't?

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    Googling this would have provided you with a plethora of results. See: http://www.essortment.com/math-basics-calculus-used-for-60928.html2012-07-22
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    Perhaps giving us the illusion that Future was predictable in the whole Universe? With Newton's master Barrow, Newton himself and his followers like Laplace and his [demon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laplace's_demon)...2012-07-22
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    Have you seen [this](http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/HistTopics/The_rise_of_calculus.html)? There were quite a number of physical problems that only became easy to deal with when the machinery of calculus became available...2012-07-22
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    It allowed us to predict the future. Powerful.2012-07-22
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    This question made me wonder whether I was on Math.SE or Quora.2013-02-18

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