The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-03-13
HANDY WITH FRACTIONS.
Alan's Uncle's Experiences With
Applied Mathematics.

81 can do any example in fractions,
uncle" said Alan the other evening as
he experimental with the cat 10 see If
he could hold that patient animal near
enough TO the CRATE fire SO that its hair
would shrivel without any marked pro-
test from pussy.
Indeed" said uncle, indulrcntly,
lacing his fingers across his vai~t5and
and extending his feet toward the FIRE;
Il used % be quite handy with frac-
tions myself In fact. l ezccued in
mathematics. Your poor father. now.
had no faculty for them. Il Is singular
how diversified talents are IN the same
family, singular, indeed"
"Henry was considered the best
mathematician in his class, said Alan's
mother, with a little flush.
In pure mathematics. Mary. in pure
mathematics, only" responded uncle;
but in the applied article he was
lamentably weak"
What Alan's mother might have re
piled TO this was lost IN interest in
Alan's experiment in which the eat
suddenly ceased 10 be q passive agent.
by and by, when Alan had bathed the
scratches on his hand and convinced
himself that the wound on his ear was
only a superficial one. he said: Give
me an example, uncle"
Certainly" said uncle. affa bly,; add
two-thirds and four-ffths and subtract
One-sevcnth."
Alan worked away for 4 minute and
then asked: What is the answer,
unclc?"
Fri think you had better let me
see how You have done IT, my boy. That
viii do you more good. Tm-ah-35.
no. lOJ-yes. 20 bc sure. Why. no: the
one-Seventh i to he subtractcl. Fif-
teen. 10. l.. -. seven over. rEa- makes
one and ~even-fiitecnth,. Now lets
.see-yes. 100. How VIII that come out.
Gcs. that's riTllt-Dne and thir,v-rour-
one-hundred-and-hfth Uulte right.
Alan. you have the answer, only your
way of doing it is q little peculiar
1t took you long time TO do it,
uncle"
Yes. the light was bad. couldn't
see the fignres very we'll You could
improve on your figures, Alan"
Give me another. uncle, please.
Make mp a tough oEc, can't you?''
''Au right. John and James-you'd
better write this down-John and aInes
had 20 cents between them: John
bought three apples AT ! y cents each;
James bought a jack-luife with four
blades; for the big blade he paid cents;
for the little blade, u cents: for the
file blade. cents; for the blade with a
nick in II. 81 cents, and for the handle
twice as much How much money did
they have left?'
''Twice aS much as what?''
Twice as much as-why twice as
much as for the little blade, OF course
That is what I said. Now, how much
did they have left?"
Nobody ever bought knife that
way"
Probably not. but that is applied
mathematics, applying principles to
everyday transactions such as you will
engage in when you get older Stin,
perhaps, that is little too far along
for you?"
''oh. can do it easy enough" said
Alan, and he went to work In few
minutes he began 10 look puzzled; then
he asked: What do you want 10
know?"
Glow much they had left?"
The puzzled look grew rs the figures
multiplied Why" said the bov. final
", they wouldn't have any thing left.
They would owe, or James would owe.
5-6 cents on the knife. OF John would
have to give up some Of the apples"
''Eh?" said uncle, with a start: .hoyv's
that?"
Alan went carefully over the problem
step by step. and, as he proceeded.
uncle's confidence in himself disap-
peared, and in its wake ran embarrass-
ment and humiliation. But uncle has
not lived two score and more wears in
this world of perplexities for nothing
and when he was led to see that Alan
was right uncle was himself again.
''Ah, yes" he said, you are quite right.
my boy, entirely right. l was wonder
ing ii you would find it out"
But don't understand how there can
be any thing left"
There isn't" said uncle. connosedIv
Il didn't intend there should he Won
may remember that told you this was
applied mathematics-apply princi-
pies TO everyday transactions were.
think, the words used. II is po+binc,
uncommon for men to buv more than
they can pay for. In this simple prob-
lem you have gained an insight intoona
OF the great principles of business life.
Ii Is wei for you to mingle theory with
practice, an excellent idea, indeed"
The paper behind which the face of
Alan s mother was hidden was shaking
and there was a look on her face az
merriment struggling with mild indio-
nation Uncle settled back in his chair
laced his fingers again, and realized
that he had crawled through a verv
small hole and saved all the buttons on
his waistcoat
Let me give You an example. uncle
>aiu Alan' thoughtfully. Not made
up one but one from the book. IN
come 10 them pretty quick and / would
IKE TO know how to do them.
Er-perhaps you had better wait ill
you get TO them said uncle 1T Is
Just as well not TO cross a bridge
Just then the eyes of Alan's mother ap-