Elements of Algebra

I purchased this book excepting it to be a tad bit shorter but that was my fault as a consumer making spontaneous purchases rather than investigating a bit further. This is a textbook sized book and it packs a lot of information all taught by Euler (possibly the greatest mathematician known to man). Some of the language used in the book can be a bit confusing but considering this is a reprint and probably was translated by people without math degrees it is passable. Definitely worth its value.

Got this so I had a check list for home schooling my kids in math to supplement day school. Engineer by training and straightforward to get through. Boggles the mind when you realize a only a couple hundred sentences from Euler summarize everything from elementary school math through high school senior. I've skipped toward the back of it for curiosity and realized I could not solve some sections in the back, that's pretty cool too.

I liked the beginning where Euler defines the mathematical symbols to be used. For instance, we learn that equal to (=) is beginning to be used at the time. Further on, when defining numbers (natural, rational,...) It is clear that at the time there was not an axiomatic number definition. Rather, Euler defines number properties with clear applied examples (investment, principal, debts an so on ). The last chapters are devoted to solving equations up to third degree. These turned out being rather cryptic for a non professional practitioner. Altogether, the book is a sort of showcase of the practice and teaching of mathematics at the time, and I bought it for that. I have no complaints about. The translator/editor did a good job updating the symbols and keeping the tangy archaic writing.

Leonhard Euler is both founder of modern algebra and widely believed to be the best pure mathematician ever. According to the story I've heard, Euler went blind late in life but to have something to do he obtained the services of a normal person not educated in mathematics and used him as an intellectual mirror to write this book. He only put explanations in this book that helper could master. Amazingly, the helper mastered the material. How clever.

Amazing read!

Very detailed, well written! Couldn’t be any better for someone who aims to master algebra! Off course no one book makes you the master of algebra, but it’s availing the steps to you by explaining things precisely on point, easy to understand that helps you progress.

Another item to add to your “I don’t know what to buy my teenager anymore” list. Just kidding. My husband gave it to my teen daughter for Christmas because he thinks she should read it because he is an engineer and engineers are weird.

I bumped into an article about Euler and, as a Mathematics major, thought his work on Algebra might be worthwhile… 500++ pages of equations and formulas. Bigger and more than any text book I ever saw in 32 semester hours of college Mathematics. Wow!!! I have to find a serious Mathematics teacher to give it to.