Louis Leithold facts for kids

Louis Leithold (born November 16, 1924, in San Francisco, died April 29, 2005, in Los Angeles) was an American mathematician and teacher. He is famous for writing The Calculus. This classic textbook changed how calculus was taught in high schools and universities around the world. Leithold was also a mentor to Jaime Escalante. Escalante was a high school teacher whose inspiring story became the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver.

Early Life and Education

Louis Leithold studied at the University of California, Berkeley. There, he earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Master of Arts (M.A.), and PhD degrees. His strong background in mathematics prepared him for a long career in teaching.

A Career in Teaching Calculus

Leithold taught at several universities and colleges. These included Phoenix College in Arizona, California State University, Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, and Pepperdine University. He also taught at The Open University in the UK.

The Calculus Textbook

In 1968, Leithold published his most famous work, The Calculus. This book became a huge success. It made learning calculus easier for many students. The textbook helped simplify how this complex math subject was taught.

Teaching at Malibu High School

After retiring from Pepperdine University, Leithold began teaching again. At age 72, he joined Malibu High School in Malibu, California. He helped students prepare for the Advanced Placement Calculus exam. His students often achieved very high scores.

Leithold was known for his lively teaching style. He loved mathematics, and it showed in his classes. He often gave students two hours of homework each night. He also held extra training sessions at his home on weekends. These sessions would last from 9 AM to 4 PM before the AP test.

Mentoring Jaime Escalante

Louis Leithold also taught workshops for other calculus teachers. One of the teachers he influenced was Jaime Escalante. Escalante taught math to students at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. Escalante's success in teaching is shown in the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver.

Legacy and Passing

Louis Leithold passed away on April 29, 2005. He died just a week before his students were to take their AP exam. Despite his passing, his students performed very well on the test. A memorial service was held in Glendale. A scholarship was also created in his name to help future math students.

Leithold was also an art collector. He owned art by Vasa Mihich. He even used art by Patrick Caulfield in his Calculus textbook.