Elementary AlgebraExcerpt from Elementary Algebra The authors make no apology for offering another algebra to the school public. In influential places algebra has been challenged as a suitable subject for high school pupils. Is it not the part of wisdom, before eliminating a subject of so long and undisputed standing as algebra, to try reconstructing and improving its form and even some of its substance? The authors believe that this text has accomplished much in both of these particulars. This book is not written, however, with the thought of defending an unworthy claimant to a place in the curriculum. The true view is that the high educational merit of school algebra may be raised even higher by a treatment whose language and mode of exposition are in accord with the possibilities and appreciations of youth, and whose scientific soundness is at the same time not seriously compromised. It is the authors' conviction that rightly taught, algebra is of great educational value, and that to most high school students it is not distasteful. In carrying out their views on this line, the authors have attempted several specific things. Some of these stated briefly are as follows: 1. To present the material in a language and mode that are simple and at the same time mathematically sound, without resort to mathematical technicalities. 2. To motivate the various topics of algebra either through special problematic situations, or through the gradually rising demands of the equation for particular phases of algebraic technique. As examples see pages 27, 32, 59, 266, etc. 3. Persistently to make the first steps into the treatments of algebraic subjects through the analogous subjects of arithmetic. (See pages 20, 41, 91, 107, 180, 229, etc.) About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works. |
