An Elementary Arithmetic: Containing Extensive Exercises for the Slate (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Calvin Tracy

 
9781333326180: An Elementary Arithmetic: Containing Extensive Exercises for the Slate (Classic Reprint)

Synopsis

This book delves into the mechanics and principles of arithmetic focusing on the four core operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The author juxtaposes these operations against simple and higher-level applications of the mathematics of numbers to practical, real-world uses. Positioned as a foundational element of human knowledge, mathematics, since its inception, has been integral to the growth of diverse disciplines. This book posits that these mathematical operations are tools which allow humans to take inventory of their world, to make comparisons, and to draw conclusions from these comparisons. Grounded in extensive historical analysis, the author traces the evolution of arithmetic, highlighting prominent scholars from antiquity through the present day. The author dedicates considerable space to the study of numbers and their unique characteristics: odd and even numbers, composite and prime, and the overarching mathematical concept of zero. Furthermore, the book challenges readers to contemplate the nature and use of numbers, proposing that numbers are inextricably linked to human cognition, allowing for the organization and measurement of thought. As the text progresses, the reader gains a solid footing in the fundamentals ofarithmetic and an appreciation of its profound influence on human intellectual history. In its final analysis, this book is not merely a cogent guide to mathematical operations but also an exploration of the broader philosophical and anthropological significance of mathematics.

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