NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Evening Star, Issue 3429, 17 February 1874, Page 3

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

New Code Series Arithmetic. William Collins, Sons, and Co., London. William Hay, bookseller, Princes street, Dunedin. Messrs Collins and Son have published the cheapest and most comprehensive book* on elementary arithmetic we have seen. The series is comprised in six books, progressively arranged. Each of them includes two processes : the first is devoted to addition and subtraction ; the second multiplication and division, and so on. We do not see any improvement in simplifying the nomenclature. Children must still be plagued with names of processes and results drawn from unfamiliar roots, and consequently conveying no ideas. It is more difficult to them to attach a notion to the meaning of the words “Sum,” “Addends,” “Minuend,” and “Subtrahend,” than to work the Examples. Perhaps Roman lads of old might have been aided by such terms, but they sadly puzzle the brains of English children. It is evident, however, that n© simplification of such abstractions is likely, and Messrs Collins have done the next best thing in giving definitions of them. On the covers of the books are very useful tables, and the Examples are so numerous, that no one working them through could fail to acquire a thorough familiarity with the arithmetical processes. The Metric System of Weights and Measures, adapted to the requirements of the new Code W. Collins and «Bon, London and Glasgow ; William Hay, Princes street. This cheap and useful work may be said to bo issued in anticipation of, and to aid in the •adoption of a more simple and less complicated system of weights, measures, and valuation, than at present prevails amon; English-speaking communities. It is an exposition of the French system of weights and measures, which, being of modern growth, is at once comprehensive, simple, uniform, and admirably systematic. All arithmeticians can of course perform all the necessary processes ou having the standards given them, but they will derive pleasure and find the advantage of having this work in iheir possession ; while the younger branches of families, through becoming familiar with the facilities given to exchange by such a system, will be prepared to give effect to it when the time comes for throwing off onr present cumbrous mode of buying aud selling and keeping accounts.