Final answer:
Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the lightbulb by adapting and improving existing technologies. He created a commercially viable design and developed the necessary electrical systems for its use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the lightbulb because he adapted and improved existing technologies to create a working bulb. He developed a commercially viable design, including a filament made from carbonized cotton thread. Additionally, Edison's research lab created the necessary system of dynamos and wiring to provide electricity to power the bulbs in homes and businesses. His inventions and innovations in the field of electric lighting transformed how people lived and worked.