The Project Gutenberg EBook of A First Book in Algebra, by Wallace C. Boyden
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: A First Book in Algebra
Author: Wallace C. Boyden
Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #13309]
Language: English
Character set encoding: TeX
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FIRST BOOK IN ALGEBRA ***
Produced by Dave Maddock, Susan Skinner
and the PG Distributed Proofreading Team.
,2
, A FIRST BOOK IN ALGEBRA
BY
WALLACE C. BOYDEN, A.M.
SUB-MASTER OF THE BOSTON NORMAL SCHOOL
1895
, PREFACE
In preparing this book, the author had especially in mind classes in the upper
grades of grammar schools, though the work will be found equally well adapted
to the needs of any classes of beginners.
The ideas which have guided in the treatment of the subject are the follow-
ing: The study of algebra is a continuation of what the pupil has been doing
for years, but it is expected that this new work will result in a knowledge of
general truths about numbers, and an increased power of clear thinking. All the
differences between this work and that pursued in arithmetic may be traced to
the introduction of two new elements, namely, negative numbers and the rep-
resentation of numbers by letters. The solution of problems is one of the most
valuable portions of the work, in that it serves to develop the thought-power
of the pupil at the same time that it broadens his knowledge of numbers and
their relations. Powers are developed and habits formed only by persistent,
long-continued practice.
Accordingly, in this book, it is taken for granted that the pupil knows what
he may be reasonably expected to have learned from his study of arithmetic;
abundant practice is given in the representation of numbers by letters, and great
care is taken to make clear the meaning of the minus sign as applied to a single
number, together with the modes of operating upon negative numbers; problems
are given in every exercise in the book; and, instead of making a statement of
what the child is to see in the illustrative example, questions are asked which
shall lead him to find for himself that which he is to learn from the example.
BOSTON, MASS., December, 1893.
2
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: A First Book in Algebra
Author: Wallace C. Boyden
Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #13309]
Language: English
Character set encoding: TeX
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FIRST BOOK IN ALGEBRA ***
Produced by Dave Maddock, Susan Skinner
and the PG Distributed Proofreading Team.
,2
, A FIRST BOOK IN ALGEBRA
BY
WALLACE C. BOYDEN, A.M.
SUB-MASTER OF THE BOSTON NORMAL SCHOOL
1895
, PREFACE
In preparing this book, the author had especially in mind classes in the upper
grades of grammar schools, though the work will be found equally well adapted
to the needs of any classes of beginners.
The ideas which have guided in the treatment of the subject are the follow-
ing: The study of algebra is a continuation of what the pupil has been doing
for years, but it is expected that this new work will result in a knowledge of
general truths about numbers, and an increased power of clear thinking. All the
differences between this work and that pursued in arithmetic may be traced to
the introduction of two new elements, namely, negative numbers and the rep-
resentation of numbers by letters. The solution of problems is one of the most
valuable portions of the work, in that it serves to develop the thought-power
of the pupil at the same time that it broadens his knowledge of numbers and
their relations. Powers are developed and habits formed only by persistent,
long-continued practice.
Accordingly, in this book, it is taken for granted that the pupil knows what
he may be reasonably expected to have learned from his study of arithmetic;
abundant practice is given in the representation of numbers by letters, and great
care is taken to make clear the meaning of the minus sign as applied to a single
number, together with the modes of operating upon negative numbers; problems
are given in every exercise in the book; and, instead of making a statement of
what the child is to see in the illustrative example, questions are asked which
shall lead him to find for himself that which he is to learn from the example.
BOSTON, MASS., December, 1893.
2
