Philosophy and Fun of Algebra

by Mary Everest Boole

 

PHILOSOPHY AND FUN OF ALGEBRA

Works by

MARY EVEREST BOOLE

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Logic Taught by Love. 3s. 6d. net.

Mathematical Psychology of Gratry and Boole for Medical Students. 3s. 6d. net.

Boole's Psychology as a Factor in Education. 6d. net.

The Message of Psychic Science to the World. 3s. 6d. net.

Mistletoe and Olive. 1s. 6d, net.

Miss Education and her Garden. ⁠6d net.

Philosophy and Fun of Algebra. ⁠2s. net.

C. W. DANIEL.

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The Preparation of the Child for Science. 2s.

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CLARENDON PRESS.

PHILOSOPHY & FUN OF ALGEBRA

BY

MARY EVEREST BOOLE
AUTHOR OF
"PREPARATION OF THE CHILD FOR SCIENCE," ETC.

 

LONDON
C. W. DANIEL
11 CURSITOR STREET, E.C.

909

To

BASIL AND MARGARET

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My Dear Children,

A young monkey named Genius picked a green walnut, and bit, through a bitter rind, down into a hard shell. He then threw the walnut away, saying: "How stupid people are! They told me walnuts are good to eat."

His grandmother, whose name was Wisdom, picked up the walnut peeled off the rind with her fingers, cracked the shell, and shared the kernel with her grandson, saying: "Those get on best in life who do not trust to first impressions."

In some old books the story is told differently; the grand-mother is called Mrs Cunning-Greed, and she eats all the kernel herself. Fables about the Cunning-Greed family are written to make children laugh. It is good for you to laugh; it makes you grow strong, and gives you the habit of understanding jokes and not being made miserable by them. But take care not to believe such fables; because, if you believe them, they give you bad dreams.

MARY EVEREST BOOLE.

January 1909.

CONTENTS

CHAP.		PAGE
1.	FROM ARITHMETIC TO ALGEBRA	9
2.	THE MAKING OF ALGEBRAS	15
3.	SIMULTANEOUS PROBLEMS	19
4.	PARTIAL SOLUTIONS AND THE PROVISIONAL ELIMINATION OF ELEMENTS OF COMPLEXITY	23
5.	MATHEMATICAL CERTAINTY AND REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM	26
6.	THE FIRST HEBREW ALGEBRA	29
7.	HOW TO CHOOSE OUR HYPOTHESES	37
8.	THE LIMITS OF THE TEACHER'S FUNCTION	46
9.	THE USE OF SEWING CARDS	51
10.	THE STORY OF A WORKING HYPOTHESIS	55
11.	MACBETH'S MISTAKE	61
12.	JACOB'S LADDER	67
13.	THE GREAT X OF THE WORLD	69
14.	GO OUT OF MY CLASS-ROOM	73
15.	√-1	77
16.	INFINITY	80
17.	FROM BONDAGE TO FREEDOM	84
	APPENDIX	89