The Elements of Algebra

In his autobiography, Charles Darwin wrote of his time at Cambridge: 'I attempted mathematics ...but I got on very slowly. The work was repugnant to me, chiefly from my not being able to see any meaning in the early steps in algebra. This impatience was very foolish, and in after years I have deeply regretted that I did not proceed far enough at least to understand something of the great leading principles of mathematics, for men thus endowed seem to have an extra sense.' First published in 1795 and reissued here in its 1815 sixth edition, The Elements of Algebra by James Wood (1760-1839) was one of the standard Cambridge texts for decades, so its presence in Darwin's library aboard the Beagle is readily understandable. Then, as now, Cambridge had a high opinion of itself as a mathematical university. The contents of Wood's book give an interesting glimpse of the standards expected of the less able students.On vulgar fractions; On decimal fractions; Signs used in algebra; The addition of algebraical quantities; Subtraction; Multiplication; Division; On algebraical fractions; Involution and evolution; Simple equations; Quadratic equations; On ratios; On proportion; On variation; On arithmetical progression; On geometrical progression; On permutations and combinations; The binomial theorem; On surds; The nature of equations; The transformation of equations; The limits of the roots of equations; The depression of equations; The solution of recurring equations; The solution of a cubic equation; Des Cartes's solution of a biquadratic; Dr Waring's solution; The method of divisors; The method of approximation; The reversion of series; The sums of the powers of the roots of an equation; On the impossible roots of an equation; On unlimited problems; On continued fractions; The value of a fraction whose numerator and denominator are evanescent; The least common multiple; The cube root; On logarithms; On interest and annuities; On the summation of series; On chances; On life annuities; On the nature of curves; On the construction of equations; General properties of curve lines.