Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-01-07
PROF. ID. III. HILLS ALGEBRA.

II is with text books of the various sciences rs
Il is with men: the most mertorious are not al
ways the most popular Teachers are often as IN
dolently disposed rs their scholars; hence that
text book which gives them the least to do, Is The
most acceptable Authors and publishers aware
of this fact, and regarding only their own lnte'
rests, arc always to he found ready to supply the
demand for such books. Sometimes, however
wel-meaning and competent authors, through
desire to make text book fit for self-instrucuon,
fall into the error of rendering it too elementary
and unnecessarily profuse, and therefore almost
totally unfit for class instruction under quaIihed
teacher. In our opinion, textbooks for schools
and colleges should be entirely distinct from those
intended for self-instruction. teacher before
being installed should first be proved to be ccm-
petent: and if he is so, he will not content himself
with putting text book into his pupils hands,
with the command to memorize or ''cipher." a
few words of explanation and some illustrations,
will often effect more than pages Of printed direc-
tions or instructions. Indeed, sometimes pro
fuse presentation of simple principle, will only
tend to mystify, or at least, to make pupils think
that the subject is difficult one: when few re-
marks, aided by the illustrations of Judiclous
instructor, would have made it plain Mt once.
These remarks will more particularly apply to
Mathematics and we are led to make them, at
ter particular examination of Prof. HILLS new
text book on Algebra This is production, which,
for reasons above given, we are afraid will not
prove as popular as it merits to he. Eschewing
the idea we have heard advanced, that with O
proper text book, any one of quick perception
can hear recitations in almost any branch of SCI
encc; he has, as an experienced teacher. produ
ced such work, as must meet the appreciation
| Of every thorough instructor and student in that
interesting branch of science. Though intended
for college classes, it will at the same time, under
proper guidance, serve for preparatory course
Plain and concise in its demonstrations, thorough
and practical upon every division of the subject
containing n full and judcious selection of ex
amples for illustration, it is entitled to claims o.
merits, above any other single work on AgrebTf
within our knowledge. Prof. HILLS chapter or
factoring polynomials is as complete as the lmpor
tanee of the subject demands, and furnishes rich
store of useful suggestions Elimination and cal
culus of Radicals have received due attention.
His introduction of dfferentals we regard as pc
culiarly happy especially in its application tt
the Bnomial Theorem :: q subject always full o.
interest to the Algebraist. Infinite series anc
particularly Logarithms, usually so lightly passed
over, are fully discussed. Both the theory and
practical application of fLogarithms arc developed,
and like every other branch of his subject, made
interesting. His general remarks under each head
are always highly suggestive to the rejecting mind
furnishing choice material to the investigating
student.
We had, at the outset, intended full review o
the work, but our space forhids. We will there
fore conclude with the simple remark: that sucl
clear, complete and scientific exposition Of Al
zebra, cvinces not only mind of scientific ac
ouirements, but also an efficient and practical in
structor and we hope to sec the day when quack
cry in teaching will be less popular, and wher
teachers will lay aside prcjudices and love of case
and select for their pupils text book, not sim
ply because they have themselves studied it, o
because it is sdyy, but because, after an mpartla
examination they find it best suited for the intel
lcctual advancement of their pupils