Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-29
SMITHS NEW PRACTICAL AND
. MENTAL ARITHMETIC.

EUST PUBLISHED, Practical and Mental
% Arithmetic on a new plan, in which Men
tai Arithmetic is combined with the use ofthe
slate: containing a complete system for oil
practical purposes; being in Dollars and Cents.
Second Edition, revised and enlarged with ex-
ercises for the slate. To which is added a
Practical System of Book Keeping, by RIOS
WELL C. SMITH.
The publishers particularly invite the atten-
ton Of teachers to this work, in the belief that
it is a great and important improvement in the
art Of teaching Arithmetic. 1t is the produce
ton of an experienced and accomplished in
structor of youth, who has availed himself of
observations made in a long course Of expert
encc. Every part Of this work has been care
fully adapted to the business of teaching, and
every page has been tested. by the use of ihe
work in the authors school.
The design ofthc author has been to instruct
tho learner in the principles and practice OF
Arithmetic. This he has endeavoured to do by
slow gradations, beginning with the simplest
ideas, and gradually ascending in the scale OF
knowledge, till the pupil is master ofthe whole
field Of Arithmetical combinations.
A fundamental principle Of the work, is to
present no difficulty which the learner is una
BILE of himself to surmount. In accordance
with this maxim, the first 20 pa ges contain no
IutSo " ~ " VIZ SfohSs
with examples so simple, that children 5 years
old, will readily comprehend them. These H.
~lustrate the principles of Addition, after which
the Table is inserted, followed by intellectual
exercises, explanatory of its practical utility
The remaining Tables of Simple Subtraction,
Multiplication and Division, are exemplificd in
q similar manner.
Thus, by a mere mental process, the pupil
is efie ctually taught the ground rules OF Arith-
mctic, and this may be accomplished wahont
any other assistance than tho book, and the
operations Of his own mind.
The pupil, on this plan, is required to think
and having become familiar with the individual
| operations required to solve a series of arith-
I metical questions, these operations arc then
summed up, and stated in the form of a rule.
! This rule he is then required to commit to
memory, not, however, without having been
previously Intercepted, to be assured of his
complete comprehension Of the same.
These hints will serve TO exhibit some Of the
general haracteristi features of the work.
1t contains many things that are ne,o, and
cannot fail to be deemed great Improvements.
The following are a few, viz. the mode of
questioning, Indirect anSDers, calculated to
secure the advantages Of systems containing
no answers, and essentially lessen the burthen
Of the teacher; the Rule for calculating In
terest for days.
1t is thought by competent judges to en-
brace all that is valuable in the two popu-
lar systems, by mental process, and the usa of
the slate. Its simplicity, and The facility with
which the pupil makes himself master Of it,
might be deemed by some a fault, did not the
frequent complaints made by children, that
" it makes their heads ache with thinking"
refute this objection.
On the whole, the work is believed to be
better calculated than any otior system, to
excite mental e~xertion, and gain a thorough
knowledge ofthe theory and practice Of Arith-
metic; and as such, the public arc respectfully
invited to examine it. Copies will be gratui-
tously furnished for that purposc.---For sale by
Dec. 20. a. s. BECKWITlI.