ARITHMETIC.

IMPORTANT: The object of this instruction paper is to give a clear understanding of and ability to use figures in so far as they are presented. Definitions and rules are of secondary importance and are intended as a help in attaining the above object. What is necessary is to be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, and to understand what is being done.

A clear knowledge of the first principles is absolutely essential as it is the foundation upon which all subsequent work is based. If the fundamental processes are not clear, the remainder of the work, which is more interesting, cannot be successfully pursued. DEFINITIONS AND MATHEMATICAL SIGNS.

I. Quantity is anything which can be increased, diminished, or measured, for example: numbers, lines, space, motion, time, volume, and weight.

2.

Mathematics is the science which treats of quantity, and its fundamental branches are Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. 3. Signs. For the sake of brevity, signs are used in mathematics to indicate processes. Those signs most used in arithmetic are +, -, ×,÷, (and

4. The sign is read "plus" and is the sign of addition. It shows that the numbers between which it is placed are to be added together. If 2 and 2 are to be added it would be expressed 22 are four.

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5. The sign is read "minus," and is the sign of subtraction. It means that the number which follows this sign is to be subtracted from the number which precedes it, or, in other words, the number which follows it is to be taken away from the number which precedes it, thus: 6-4 is 2.

NOTE. Plus and Minus are Latin words, signifying more and less.

6. The sign of multiplication is X and is read "times"; it means that numbers between which it is placed are to be multiplied together, thus: 25 are 10.