First Lessons in Algebra: Embracing the Elements of the Science (1839)

The book was written to follow the teaching of arithmetic. The Algebra of M. Bourdon has been closely followed, modifying it, giving it a more practical and tangible form. The purpose was for use in common schools. Probably to be used by the teacher to instruct the class, the book covers all the material from a modern Algebra I textbook, as well as quadratics, arithmetic and geometric sequences, and logarithms. At the bottom of most pages, one will find extended thinking questions in which the teacher probably asked when instructing the students. Each concept is based around "word problems," giving a practical application of the concept. For each concept, there are very clear examples.