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Andrew's 9-23-30 22567

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PREFACE.

IT is fourteen years since the first Edition of the Scholar's Arithmetic was offered to the Public. It has now gone through nine editions, and more than Forty Thousand copies have been circulated. In those places where it has been introduced, it never has, to the best of our knowledge, been superseded by any other work which has come in competition with it. A knowledge of these facts is, perhaps, one of the best recommendations which can be desired of the work.

It has now undergone a careful revisal. Some of the rules have been thought to be deficient in examples; in this revised edition, more than sixty new examples have been added under the different rules. Some have expressed a desire that answers might be given to the "Miscellaneous Questions," at the end of the book; these have been added accordingly, and the number of these questions increased. But what more particularly claims attention in this revised edition, is the introduction of the rule of Exchange, where the pupil is made acquainted with the different currencies of the several states, (that of S. Carolina and Georgia, only excepted,) and how to change these currencies from one to another; also, to Federal Money, and Federal Money to these several currencies. This has been done more particularly with a view to the accommodation of the State of NewYork, and other more southern states, where this work has already acquired a very considerable circulation. Answers are given to many of the questions in different currencies, so that the pupil in N. England, N. York, &c. will find an answer to the question, cach in the currency of his own particular state.

These comprehend the only additions in the present new edition.

We have now the testimony of many respectable Teachers to believe, that this work, where it has been introduced into Schools, has proved a very kind assistant towards a more speedy and thorough improvement of Schol

ars in Numbers, and at the same time, has relieved masters of a heavy burden of writing out Rules and Questions, under which they have so long labored, to the manifest neglect of other parts of their Schools.

To answer the several intentions of this work, it will be necessary that it should be put into the hands of every Arithmetician: the blank after each example is designed for the operation by the Scholar, which being first wrought upon a slate, or waste paper, he may afterwards transcribe into his book.

The SUPPLEMENTS to the Rules in this work are something new; experience has shown them to be very useful, particularly those "Questions," unanswered, at the beginning of each Supplement. These questions the pupil should be made to study and reflect upon, till he can of himself devise the proper answer. They should be put to him not only once, but again, and again, till the answers shall become as familiar with him as the numbers in his multiplication Table. The Exercises in each supplement may be omitted the first time going through the book, if thought proper, and taken up afterwards as a kind of review.

Through the whole it has been my greatest care to make myself intelligible to the scholar; such rules and remarks as have been compiled from other authors are included in quotations; the Examples, many of them are extracted; this I have not hesitated to do, when I found them suited to my purpose.

Demonstrations of the reason and nature of the operations in the extraction of the Square and Cube Roots have never been attempted in any work of the kind before; it is a pleasure to find these have proved so highly satisfactory.

Grateful for the patronage this work has already received, it remains only to be observed, that no pains nor exertions shall be spared to merit its continuance.

DANIEL ADAMS.

Mont-Vernon, (N. H.) December 26th, 1815.

LA

RECOMMENDATIONS.

New-Salem, Sept. 14th, 1801. HAVING attentively examined "The Scholar's Arithmetic," I cheerfully give it as my opinion that it is well calculated for the instruction of youth, and that it will abridge much of the time now necessary to be spent in the communication and attainment of such Arithmetical knowledge as is proper for the discharge of business. WARREN PIERCE, Preceptor of New-Salem Academy.

Groton Academy, Sept. 2, 1801.

SIB....I have perused with attention "The Scholar's Arithmetic," which you transmitted to me some time since. It is in my opinion, better calculated to lead students in our Schools and Academies into a complete knowledge of all that is useful in that branch of literature, than any other work of the kind I have seen. With great sincerity I wish you success in your exertions for the promotion of useful learning; and I am confident that to be generally approved your work needs only to be generally known. WILLIAM M. RICHARDSON, Preceptor of the Academy.

Extract of a Letter from the Hon. JOHN WHEELOCK, LL. D. President of Dartmouth College, to the Author.

"The Scholar's Arithmetic is an improvement on former productions of the same nature. Its distinctive order and supplement will help the learner in his progress; the part on Federal Money makes it more useful; and I have no doubt but the whole will be a new fund of profit in our country.”

Semptember 7th, 1807.

The Scholar's Arithmetic contains most of the important Rules of the Art, and something, also, of the curious and entertaining kind.

The subjects are handled in a simple and concise manner.

While the questions are few, they exhibit a considerable variety. While they are generally easy, some of them afford scope for the exercise of the Scholar's judg

ment.

It is a good quality of the Book, that it has so much to do with Federal Money. The plan of showing the reasons of the operations in the extraction of the Square, and Cube Roots is good. DANIEL HARDY, JUN. Preceptor of Chesterfield Academy.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. LABAN AINSWORTH of Jaffrey, to the publisher of the fourth Edition, dated August 3, 1807.

"THE Superiority of the Scholar's Arithmetic to any book of the kind in my knowledge, clearly appears from its good effect in the schools I annually visit..... Previous to its introduction, Arithmetic was learned and performed mechanically; since, scholars are able to give a rational account of the several operations in Arithmetic, which is the best proof of their having learned to good purpose."

THE

SCHOLAR'S ARITHMETIC.

INTRODUCTION.

ARITHMETIC is the art or science which treats of numbers.
It is of two kinds, theoretical and practical.

The THEORY of Arithmetic explains the nature and quality of numbers, and demonstrates the reason of practical operations. Considered in this sense, Arithmetic is a Science.

PRACTICAL ARITHMETIC shews the method of working by numbers, so as to be most useful and expeditious for business. In this sense Arithmetic is an Art.

DIRECTIONS TO THE SCHOLAR.

DEEPLY impress your mind with a sense of the importance of arithmetical knowledge. The great concerns of life can in no way be conducted without it. Do not, therefore, think any pains too great to be bestowed for so noble an end. Drive far from you idleness and sloth; they are great enemies to improvement. Remember that youth, like the morning, will soon be past, and that opportunities once neglected, can never be regained. First of alí things, there must be implanted in your mind a fixed delight in study; make it your inclination; "A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." Be not in a hurry to get through your book too soon. Much instruction may be given in these few words, UNDERSTAND EVERY THING AS YOU GO ALONG... Each rule is first to be committed to memory; afterwards, the examples in illustration, and every remark is to be perused with care. There is not a word inserted in this Treatise, but with a design that it should be studied by the Scholar. As much as possible, endeaver to do every thing of yourself; one thing found out by your own thought and reflection, will be of more real use to you, than twenty things told you by an Instructor. Be not overcome by little seeming difficulties, but rather strive to overcome such by patience and application; so shall your progress be easy and the object of your endeavors sure.

Ox entering upon this most useful study, the first thing which the Scholar has to regard, is

NOTATION.

NOTATION is the art of expressing numbers by certain characters or figures of which there are two methods. 1. The Roman method, by Letters. 2. The Arabic method, by Figures. The latter is that of general use.

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