James Thomson (12)

There really isn't much to say - the book is a 19th century elementary math text. It remains a part of my library because of the timelessness of the expressed sentiments in the preface and because of the very 19th century nature of the word problems. The preface, in particular, highlights the old adage about things changing and yet staying the same.

"Intellectual Arithmetic has, confessedly, never received that attention in popular education which its importance demands. The distaste for the study, often manifested, is due not so much to the subject itself, as to the manner in which it is presented.

Mental Arithmetic is but another name for Arithmetical Analysis, which is the master-key to the treasure of Mathematics. It unlocks the portals and bids the tyro enter and participate freely in the riches of this matchless science."

The opening chapter headings are, as one would expect, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division. The next group of chapters cover fractions, decimals, metric weights, and percentage. The last third of the book has the most interesting chapter headings and the chapter on General Analysis has the most interesting and, from the current 21st Century view of the world, the most pertinent subsections titled partnership, bankruptcy, and Alligation Medial - finding the mean value of mixtures.

I found it to be an interesting read.… (más)