The present work is designed to supply a suitable text-book. A boy of twelve or thirteen years of age may go through it. He will then have some knowledge of fundamental facts and principles in mathematics; may acquire some skill in the construction of figures and in ordinary questions in mensuration, and will not find an algebraic formula altogether an unknown tongue.
I have had some experience in education, and venture to submit this work as an introduction to mathematics specially for beginners, and containing enough for that large class that leave school before fifteen years of age, who have so much to crowd into a limited time. Though not a demonstrative course, it contains much calculated to impart valuable training, to interest, to be useful, and to excite a taste for further progress. But the teacher will, doubtless, make the pupil aware that there are demonstrations—which he should study when he has time—and give him orally examples of these.
London, February 1872.
