ELEMENTS OF ALGEBRA, BEING AN ABRIDGMENT OF DAY'S ALGEBRA, ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF THE YOUNG, AND THE METHOD OF INSTRUCTION, IN SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES. BY. JAMES B. THOMSON, A. M., Author of Mental Arithmetic; Practical Arithmetic; Higher Arithmetic; TENTH EDITION. NEW HAVEN: DURRIE & PECK. PHILADELPHIA: LOOMIS & PECK. Educ T 125,48.315 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF GEORGE ARTHUR PLIMPTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, BY JEREMIAH DAY and JAMES B. THOMSON, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut. N. B. A Key to this work is published for the use of teachers. Stereotyped by RICHARD C. VALENTINE, 45 Gold-street, New York. PREFACE. PUBLIC Opinion has pronounced the study of Algebra to be a desirable and important branch of popular education. This decision is one of the clearest proofs of an onward and substantial progress in the cause of intellectual improvement in our country. A knowledge of algebra may not indeed be regarded as strictly necessary to the discharge of the common duties of life; nevertheless no young person at the present day is considered as having a "finished education" without an acquaintance with its rudiments. The question with parents is, not "how little learning and discipline their children can get through the world with;" but, "how much does their highest usefulness require ;" and "what are the best means to secure this end?" It has long been a prevalent sentiment among teachers and the friends of education, that an abridgment of Day's Algebra, adapted to the wants of schools and academies, would greatly facilitate this object. Whilst his system has been deemed superior to any other work before the public, and most happily adapted to the circumstances of college students, for whom it was especially prepared; it has also been felt, that a smaller and cheaper work, combining the simplicity of language and the unrivalled clearness with which the principles of the science are there stated, would answer every purpose for beginners, and at the same time bring the subject within the means of the humblest child in the land. |