PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS IN THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA STATE NORMAL BUTLER, SHELDON & COMPANY PHILADELPHIA NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY PREFACE. THE object of this work is to give a complete course in all those portions of Algebra which are required in our best High Schools, Academies, and Normal Schools, and at the same time to meet the requirements of students preparing for admission to college. In the preparation of this work the aim has been to make the transition from Arithmetic to Algebra a natural and easy process; to illustrate and discuss each subject with clearness and sufficient fullness; and to so grade the exercises that the beginner will take up each new topic with increased pleasure and profit, and feel that he is both gaining power and mastering the subject. Great care has been taken in the selection of examples—neither to make them too difficult, and thus discourage the pupil, nor too easy, and thus deprive him of the power that comes from patient effort. All such problems as merely consume time and do not develop power have been carefully omitted, and yet a sufficient number of well-graded examples will be found under each subject to fix it permanently in the mind of the student. |