Historical timeline check: Was the first integrated circuit (IC) invented in 1959, or does the primary invention date trace to 1958?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding the origins of integrated circuits helps contextualize semiconductor manufacturing evolution. Two milestones are often cited: Jack Kilby’s initial working IC demonstration and Robert Noyce’s planar monolithic approach.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Historical dates: 1958 (Kilby’s demonstration at Texas Instruments) and 1959 (Noyce’s planar IC concept at Fairchild).
• Question asks whether “1959” alone correctly states the invention date.

Concept / Approach:
History distinguishes “first working IC” from “manufacturable planar IC.” Kilby built a functional integrated circuit using germanium in 1958, widely regarded as the invention of the IC. Noyce’s 1959 work introduced planar technology with silicon and on-chip interconnection, enabling practical mass production. Thus, saying “invented in 1959” omits the earlier invention and is incomplete or inaccurate.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical timelines, Nobel recognitions, and company histories consistently cite 1958 as the invention year for the first working IC, with 1959 as a pivotal step toward practical IC fabrication.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option b ignores the 1958 milestone.
• Option c contradicts well-documented history.
• Option d claims indeterminacy despite well-established dates.

Common Pitfalls:
Conflating invention with commercialization; both dates matter, but the initial invention occurred in 1958.

Final Answer:
The claim “invented in 1959” is inaccurate as a standalone statement; 1958 marks the first IC demonstration.