Calculus was invented by Isaac Newton in his efforts to solve some of the elementary problems of physics that he was pursuing, such as the process of objects changing over time. He invented the first derivative and the symbol "dx". He also created the idea of "infinitesimals," or numbers that approach zero but never reach it. These tools helped Newton discover the mathematics behind the force of gravity.
Statistics are an extremely common tool in math for evaluating data and forming or rejecting hypotheses. Biologists and chemists use statistics to determine their "confidence" in a result by creating a Gaussian standard distribution bell curve for data. Results that fall in 95% or 99% confidence interval can be used to reject a hypothesis. For example, if a researcher is trying to find out whether a new drug can cure the flu, they would set a hypothesis that a new drug does not cure the illness. After experimentation, they find that most people are cured of the flu and that there is a 95% probability that it was not due to random chance. Based on these results, the researcher would have sufficient evidence to say that the new drug most likely cures the flu.
Algebra is one of the basic tools scientists use to organize their research and resolve basic problems by solving for the variable x or graphing a line. Similarly, linear algebra is used to solve basic questions of science at a more complex level. Linear algebra covers areas such as matrices, determinants, vectors and n-spaces. These areas of math can be used for physics, computer science and engineering.
Trigonometry is used by scientists studying waves. Whether they are the waves of the ocean or electromagnetic waves in the air, they follow a predictable pattern of trigonometry either by a sine or cosine wave. Scientists can also use it to help them find the degrees in a shape by using the tan, cos and sin functions. These principles are useful in engineering, applied mathematics and physics.