Call's Decimal Arithmetic

student, and labored to make that portion of the work as intelligible as possible.

Throughout other parts of the work, the subscriber has made his own selections and arrangement, and readily assumes whatever responsibility rests upon an author. He has not confined himself to the "old method" in any article in the work. We have depended mostly upon our own resources for rules and illustrations throughout the book; yet we have not hesitated to insert questions found in other books, whenever we thought proper.

The following authors have been consulted in our preparation, from each of whom we have derived greater or less aid: Pike, Lacroix, Stevens, Montgomery, Greenleaf, Adams, Little, Walsh, Euler, Allen, Day, American Encyclopedia, and Edinburgh Encyclopedia. We have aimed to make our book a useful school-book; how far we have succeeded, we shall leave to the public to judge. The Editor feels it due to himself to state, that, residing at so great a distance from the press, and thus being unable to review his proof sheets, many more errors may be found in the work, than would otherwise have escaped notice.

The attention of teachers, and others, is requested in relation to points of improvement, any suggestions from whom will be thankfully received by the Editor, that any errors that may occur in this edition may be corrected in the next, and such other new matter inserted, as shall be useful in advancing the knowledge of arithmetic. ZEBULON JONES,

Peterborough, N. H., Jan. 3, 1842.

EDITOR.

among some Eastern nations, was introduced about the second century of the Christian era, and was considered as the invention of Ptolemy. In this system, every unit was divided into sixty parts, and each of these parts was divided into sixty other parts. Sixty was sexagesima prima, and was represented thus, I'; twice 60 was represented thus, II', and thrice 60 thus, III'. This method was pursued till the series closed with 59 times 60; when the second series was commenced with 60 times 60, marked thus, I". A dash at the bottom, thus, I,, or at the top, thus, 'I, denoted.

It remained to a fierce and uncivilized people, in the eighth century, to develop a system of notation, which supplanted the sexagesimal arithmetic, and has been perpetuated to our time, as the most perfect system ever invented. The Arabs expressed numbers by proper signs, and made the value of a figure depend upon its location, but with reference also to its primitive value. To the Arabians we are indebted for our present system of Arithmetic, although it is affirmed that they regarded it to be of Indian origin. The first treatise on decimals was written in 1582; and since that time, decimal fractions have been considered essential to every system of Arithmetic.

CASUAL REMARKS.

FIGURES being characters used to express numbers and parts of numbers, and representing any thing we have occasion to deal in, and which cannot be understood without some other character or language, to give them a name, it will be readily seen that they may represent money, or any specific article or articles, with propriety. Therefore all things may be reckoned the same as if they were money; and in any arithmetical question, every kind of commodity may be treated, in whole numbers or in parts, as if of one denomination; and by learning to reckon money, and comparing the whole numbers and parts (first calling it money) with other things and the same parts of things, we readily see that all denominations are reckoned exactly alike, which gives the learner an understanding of all varieties of business in a simple and easy manner at once. By this method of computation, calling every thing money, any one may, in a very short time, understand the science, so as to be expert in every kind of business in which figures are used.

It is necessary to be partially acquainted with the old system, before entering upon the improved method; for which purpose, exercises are given for the learner before he enters upon the peculiarities of the improved system.

In all the fundamental rules, decimals are employed, and the rules given, without the word decimal being used; for in the sequel of the work a more minute explanation is given. Those who have but a short time to attend school, and have some previous knowledge of the science, will do well to commence at DECIMAL FRACTIONS, page 70, and by making themselves familiar with the Tables, they may soon obtain a good practical knowledge of the science, which is better than silver and gold; for it is a treasure they can keep as long as they retain their understandings.

Βιβλία