Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1859-02-02
"For the Republican. !"
Mr.. EDITOR,

In your last paper is a
communication from Morris township
signed ''Sprucy," in which he solicits re-
ply from his brother teachers in regard to
certain text books used in school Partic-
ular reference is made to two question: in
Proportion, in Roses arethmetic as being
incorrect. The answers are correct, if the
questions are solved according to the
weights and measures laid down bv that
author. | know of no question in that
book (Rose) having an incorrect answer,
unless 1t be typographical one, and il
should not be charged to the author.
As time flies, men and measures change:
laws and c ustoms change and books are
mutable things--Cobb's books will die a
natural death no has quit book-making
and engaged in trading his books should
have bean rejected long ago, and no au-
thor patronized who is yearly making
changes in his books, to the ANNOYANCE Of
the teacher and the expense of the schol-
ars, without any benefit, save to himself
As a teacher, am willing to make any
knowledge ! possess common stool, with
my brother teachers, so il any one Is in
possession of anything new and useful. that
others have not we may all profit by the
partnership. ii can impart any nfor-
nation, my readers are welcome to pocket
the profits.
Irecollect the time very well, when
farmer Sold ton Of hay, it was to con-
tain 2@4U lbs. instead OF COCO lbs as il
does at lresent-IAe cwt. was equal to-
IL lbs. Instead of lOOlb.. as it is now.
Therefore the questions IN Rose solved bv
A al ff ll, ., .
give the book answers, and no trouble to
teacher or student
"'Sprucy' chamelian like in song,
First is right and then e's wrong"
Question, What is the price of lcwt.
2qr. l4lbs. Of steel at the rate of 25cts. for
2lbs ? "Sprucy's" answer. $50 80 which is
right; calling lcwt. equal to lOOlbs. Thus,
lcwt. 2qr. I4lbs. equal l64lbs.; then
2lbs.; l64lbs 25cls $50 10, But Rose
in his table makes lcwt. equal ll2lbs.
then lcwt. 2qs. I4lbs will equal l82los.
instead ofl64lbs. and 2lbs. l82lbs .: 25cts
equal so IS book answer; which would
analyse in this way. If Obs cost 2j cents
lib will cost half Of 2jcis. equal to l25cts
then lS2lbs. will cost l23 times more than
lib. equal to $50 IS or l24 is equal to
of dollar, then divide into 1890 and it
give the same result, 500 IS.
2nd. question. "lf 4cwt. of lead cost
Sl3 A what what will one pound cost ?"
Here "Sprucy" is in the same dalena ms
before; but ll2lbs. is lcwt; then lI2
multiplied by 4 equal 44Slos which diyi.
ded INTO Sl3 A will equal Bets per pound.
the book answer of Rose-If 44Slbs. cost
Sl3 Al, lib will cost as many cents as 44S
IS contained times in Sl3 "A (which is. 3cts.
In addition and substraction we cannot
unite unlike quantities of concrete numbers;
but in the Rule of Three or Proportion. il
Will makeno difference in the resultwheth.
er the 3rd or 2nd term be of the same
name as the erequired answer, if we use an
antiquated and nearly obsolete rule, of
direct or indirect proportion, which by
the way IS quite as good as the one in pres.
ent use. You may say there is 10 proper
ton between concrete numbers, unlike
in name, and yet there is proportion be-
tween unlike econcretenumbers when taken
in the abstract; if there were not, we
could not in proportion multiply and di,
vide unlike terms by each other and pro-
duce a true answer. Antiquated books
should not be despised select the good
and reject the bad. It's as difficult for
an author to please every one, as it is for
n teacher to always give complete satisfac-
tion to all his pupils.
We seldom find any work on grammar.
philosophy arethmetie or mathematics so
simple as 10 noed no demonstration by tho