"All sciences rest ultimately on mathematics." "Mathematics should be regarded as the alphabet of all philosophy." "Divine mathematics, which alone can purge the intellect and fit the student for the acquirement of all knowledge." PREFACE THE Elementary Algebra is planned to cover the work of the first year in this subject. It is in no sense a revision of the authors' First Principles of Algebra, but a new book, designed to meet the most exacting requirements of college entrance or other examination boards and the syllabi of various states. The presentation of topics, therefore, follows the traditional order. The new Algebra contains numerous attractive features, all aiming to make the subject more simple and interesting and therefore more valuable to first year pupils. Among these features the most distinctive are perhaps the following four : The presentation of the subject is as simple as it can be made. The book is equipped with an unusually full and complete set of exercises and problems. Vital purpose is given to the study of algebra by using it to do interesting and useful things. Emphasis is given to the human interest of algebra. To take up these four features in detail: The simplicity of the book is especially shown (a) in the careful explanation of each new subject, which is fully discussed, defined, and illustrated; (b) in the gradation of topics, -so carefully managed as to be almost imperceptible to the pupil; and (c) in the gradual and natural introduction of the symbols and processes of algebra. Each new topic is fixed by a large number of simple illustrative examples and exercises, oral and written, and finally 460003 |