An Arithmetic for Schools

Abstract

THIS is a comprehensive text-book clearly written and well arranged. There is a useful chapter on abridged methods and approximations, and a note (in the appendix) on the metric system. Compound interest is, very properly, done entirely by decimals. The examples are numerous, sensibly chosen, and carefully graduated. The term “concrete number” is objectionable; so is the statement “1 lb. of sugar = 2d” in the explanation of the chain rule. In compound proportion too much of the old-fashioned paraphernalia has been retained; and we think that too much attention has been paid to the con version of vulgar fractions into recurring decimals, and vice versâ. It would be a good thing if recurring decimals could be eliminated from all elementary examinations in arithmetic; they are of no practical use, and the tiresome calculations connected with them help to perpetuate the English prejudice against the metric system. It may be worth noticing that in Chapter v. the term “power” and the index notation are apparently introduced without previous explanation. In some cases it would be well to give not only an explanatory working of an example, but also the actual computation, arranged in proper form. It is true that this is done in many cases; but there are many others where the working is decidedly clumsy, owing to the addition pf explanatory matter. On the whole it may be said that this work, while not specially distinguished by novelty of treatment, deserves to rank with the best of its class. An Arithmetic for Schools. By S. L. Loney (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1898.