Posted on 05/08/2005 9:24:30 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Sunday May 08, 2005
LOS ANGELES (AP) Louis Leithold, who wrote one of the most widely used calculus textbooks and helped change the way the subject is taught, has died. He was 80.
Leithold was found dead April 29 at his Los Angeles home by the parent of a worried student. The coroner's office said he died of natural causes.
Leithold wrote ``The Calculus,'' which became a standard text and was credited with changing the way the subject is studied. The book, first published in 1968, is widely used in high schools and universities and is in its seventh printing.
He was 72 when he declined to retire and instead launched a calculus program at Malibu High School after being approached by a teacher.
``He inspired you to do mathematics. His face would just light up,'' said student Matthew Mesher, 17.
Among the many educators he influenced was Jaime Escalante, whose success teaching calculus to poor, largely minority students in East Los Angeles was chronicled in the 1988 film ``Stand and Deliver.''
``I called him my adviser,'' Escalante said Saturday. ``He was one of the great mathematicians. His book had beautiful problems. It made us believe that anybody could do calculus.''
Leithold held a doctorate in math and taught at numerous schools during his long career, including California State University at Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Pepperdine University and the Open University of Great Britain.
RIP for an unsung hero of an important subject.
I used his book at Ohio State during the late 70s for Math 151, 152 and 153. It had a red cover with a yellow lamp on the front. Propably only one of two textbooks where I remember the author's name. The other being "French" who was the author of my Engineering Graphics text and as I found out later, one of the designers of Ohio Stadium.
Never used his textbook - used text by John Tierney as a college freshman. The professor was a Chinese woman who spoke with such a strong accent, I couldn't understand her if she said "good morning" much less talking about integrals, derivatives, f(x)dx, and eigenvalues. Out of desperation, I became good friends with my textbook.
textbooks --> scam
1968? Just DAMN! Too late, again; if I'd had his book, maybe I would have passed the stinking course.
Even my gall bladder missed laser surgery by less than 6 months, so instead I have a scar that any VC would have been proud to inflict on a GI.
Story of my life; story of my life: day late, dollar short, and NO RESPECT!
I used his excellent book, which was an inspiration for one of my own.
RIP, Louis.
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