A History of Mathematics/Preface

An increased interest in the history of the exact sciences manifested in recent years by teachers everywhere, and the attention given to historical inquiry in the mathematical class-rooms and seminaries of our leading universities, cause me to believe that a brief general History of Mathematics will be found acceptable to teachers and students.

The pages treating—necessarily in a very condensed form—of the progress made during the present century, are put forth with great diffidence, although I have spent much time in the effort to render them accurate and reasonably complete. Many valuable suggestions and criticisms on the chapter on "Recent Times" have been made by Dr. E. W. Davis, of the University of Nebraska. The proof-sheets of this chapter have also been submitted to Dr. J. E. Davies and Professor C. A. Van Velzer, both of the University of Wisconsin; to Dr. G. B. Halsted, of the University of Texas; Professor L. M. Hoskins, of the Leland Stanford Jr. University; and Professor G. D. Olds, of Amherst College,—all of whom have afforded valuable assistance. I am specially indebted to Professor F. H. Loud, of Colorado College, who has read the proof-sheets throughout. To all the gentlemen above named, as well as to Dr. Carlo Veneziani ​of Salt Lake City, who read the first part of my work in manuscript, I desire to express my hearty thanks. But in acknowledging their kindness, I trust that I shall not seem to lay upon them any share in the responsibility for errors which I may have introduced in subsequent revision of the text.