FOR SCHOOL AND COLLEGE USE. WITH A COPIOUS Collection of Examples, AND A CHAPTER ON THE METRIC SYSTEM AND DECIMAL BY T. PERCY HUDSON, M.A., FELLOW AND ASSISTANT TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. LONDON: CASSELL, PETTER, AND GALPIN, LUDGATE HILL, E.C. 181. b. PREFACE. THIS little Work was undertaken at the request of the publishers, Messrs. Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. My object in it has been to give, in all cases where it is possible, the explanation of the method employed at sufficient length and with sufficient clearness to enable a careful reader, even though unassisted by a teacher, to master the principles of arithmetical calculation for himself. It is manifestly of the highest importance that a learner should be accustomed to examine into and understand the reason of the processes he is employing, and not content himself, as is so often done, with a. merely mechanical application of certain rules. Arithmetic thus learned. in an intelligent manner, affords a most valuable means of training the reasoning powers, and also forms the natural introduction to the study of Algebra. I am convinced that much of the difficulty which is so often experienced by beginners in mastering the principles of algebraical reasoning arises from their having learned arithmetic without the habit of inquiring for themselves into the truth of the methods they make use of. |