A PRACTICAL ARITHMETIC BY G. A. WENTWORTH, A.M. AUTHOR OF A SERIES OF TEXT-BOOKS IN MATHEMATICS BOSTON, U.S.A., AND LONDON The Athenæum Press 1896 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF MISS ELLEN L. WENTWORTH MAY 8 1939 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1896, by G. A. WENTWORTH in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PREFACE. PUPILS can be trained to logical habits of mind and stimulated to a good degree of intellectual energy by solving problems suited to their capacities. By this course they acquire practical mastery over the everyday problems of common life as well as gain the very best mental discipline. The shortest and best way of learning Arithmetic is by solving problems. The rules which this book contains are not intended to be committed to memory, but to help the pupil to neat and intelligent methods. The rules follow explanations of processes, and no rule should be considered until the process which it summarizes is thoroughly understood. Dependence upon set rules and formulas is the worst possible mental slavery. This The examples are in the main new, and contain a great deal of accurate and valuable information of the latest date, while they are well-graded and progressive. Arithmetic and the author's Elementary Arithmetic are intended for a two-book course sufficiently comprehensive to cover all the work that should be required of pupils in general. The Appendix contains subjects of value only for pupils in the States named, and other subjects of little practical value but convenient for reference. Decimal fractions are introduced before common fractions. Experience proves that, when taught with reference to integral numbers, they present no difficulty. The difficulty of decimal fractions arises from comparing them with common fractions, and is avoided by teaching decimals first. The notation on the right of the decimal point is learned as easily as the notation on the left, if there is no break in presenting the notation on both sides. Care has been taken to use only small common fractions. They are best adapted to give practice in the methods of working with fractions, and are the only ones used in ordinary business. Domestic Exchange is put under Bank Discount where it belongs and not made a separate topic. Foreign Exchange is made one of the subjects in the Appendix. Every effort has been made to avoid errors in problems and answers. The author will be very grateful to any one who will call his attention to any mistake that may be discovered. The author thankfully acknowledges his obligation to many eminent school superintendents and teachers who have read the proofs of this book, and given him the benefit of valuable suggestions and criticisms. G. A. WENTWORTH. EXETER, N.H., August, 1896. |