Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 174]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

166 The mathematical studies in the college of literature and science occupy three terms of the freshman year; in the college of natural science, two terms; and in the college of agriculture, one term. The instruction is the same for the students in these colleges. It has for its object the promotion of "habits of mental concentration and continuity of thought," "to develop the capacity to form and combine abstract conceptions, and cultivate the deductive reason." I conceive the above to be the leading object, but the possible and expected applications to surveying and advanced studies are not overlooked. The fall term is taken up with plane and spherical trigonometry. Two classes are taught, on account of the numbers, and to meet the requirements of divisions in other studies. The winter term is taken up with conic sections and analytical geometry. A little over one-half of the term is given to the geometrical method of discussing the conic sections; the balance is occupied with the analytical geometry. I have taught these classes. The third term is given to work in advanced geometry,—that is, the use of some of the modern methods, such as harmonic proportion and harmonic pencils, anharmonic ratio and involution; poles and polars; the principle of continuity, etc. Only the students of the school of ancient language are required to take the work of this term. I understand that a third term of mathematics is desired for the chemical course, and that the term be given to the calculus. If this be granted, I suggest that the study be substituted for advanced geometry in the college of literature and sciencs. I believe that the change can be made with advantage to the departments concerned, as it will make their mathematical studies of the proper standard in name as well as in reality. But I trust that as the University develops, instruction will be given in the so-called modern methods, both in geometry and algebra. The instruction in this term has been given in the past by Prof. Sondericker, and will be given the coming term by Assistant-Prof. Talbot. This arrangement has been had in order that I might have the engineering students in their study of advanced algebra, as that study is so intimately connected with the calculus. The students of the college of engineering have one term of trigonometry, two of analytical geometry, one of advanced, algebra, two of calculus and two of descriptive geometry. The object aimed at in this course is to enable the student to meet the requirements in his engineering studies. The greater part of the time is necessarily taken up with the theory of the studies, and the applications to geometrical magnitudes necessary to illustrate and fix it in the mind. The geometrical concepts have the advantage over others of being familiar ones and representing all others of magnitude. It seems an open question whether additional applications in mechanics and astronomy might not be brought in with advantage. The leading