Abstract
BOOK 3 of Dr. Curzon's attempt to deal with school mathematics contains many problems, including compound interest, discount, stocks and shares, some arithmetic like square roots, the solid geometry of pyramids, cones and spheres, the algebra of quadratic equations, simultaneous equations, graphs, factors and fractions, some deductive geometry of triangles and parallelograms, and logarithms. Book 4 deals with Pythagoras's theorem, the circle, similar triangles and loci, algebra including simultaneous quadratic equations, cubic equations, surds and indices, logarithms, ratios and the progressions, numerical trigonometry, the elements of the calculus and some advanced practical geometry. It seems very doubtful whether it is better for the student to have different books for different years of study rather than for different branches of the subject. Perhaps the harassed parent may prefer the possible economy involved in Mr. Curzon's plan, in view of sudden transference from schooling to earning a living. From the educational point of view, the mixture might be really useful if the different components were organically combined, instead of being quite independent chapters placed side by side with no connecting links.
A Course in Elementary Mathematics for Schools.
By Dr. H. E. J. Curzon. (Organised Mathematics Series.) Book 3. Pp. 88. 2s. 6d. net; with answers, 3s. net. Book 4. Pp. 111. 2s. 9d. net; with answers, 3s. 3d. net. (London, Bombay and Sydney: Constable and Co., Ltd., 1922.)
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B., S. A Course in Elementary Mathematics for Schools. Nature 113, 638 (1924). https://doi.org/10.1038/113638a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/113638a0