I have the “core mathematics” book by them. I think it was publish for the QLD syllabus in the 70’s. It’s surprising how clear and to the point the text (mostly) is, especially compared to textbooks currently in print. I’m currently using it to help improve my senior lessons.
Gotta love a new toy. Will you use it to digitise books or for displaying documents while lecturing? I used to use a digital projector/scanner while teaching, but it had very poor resolution, and my iPad made it redundant.
I don’t typically scan my own stuff. I scan obscure stuff that I borrow from libraries, often by ILL, which would be a huge pain to get again. I always really hated it, but the speed of this thing is amazing.
Yeah, I go back on occasion, particularly when looking how current texts have mangled some topic. I figure its my fantasy memory of the past, that F & G really didn’t do it better, but they really did. And of course they were texts for really excellent exams, so simply the past exam questions included are absolutely beautiful.
In NSW, Jim Coroneos wrote many mathematics books; we used one of them for Honours Mathematics in our final year of school; it was typeset rather than printed; unfortunately my mother gave it away to someone who needed it after I had left home; Coroneos started up a publishing company which is still thriving; nice summary of his life is here:
I have a few Coroneoses, from the mid sixties. I gather these books played the same role in NSW as Fitzpatrick and Galbraith, and Lucas and James, di in Victoria, at least until the late 80s. It may sound shallow, but I find the amateurish typesetting a little off-putting. Even ignoring that, I don’t know that Coroneos has the elegance of F&G. But, God, what a difference from today. And what a difference in the level and the integrity of the mathematics.
Isaac Todhunter FRS (1820-1884) wrote many text books on mathematics in the 19th century. He also wrote a book of essays on education entitled “The conflict of studies and other essays” (1873). One of the essays was entitled “Private study of mathematics” which is focussed on how an individual might learn mathematics, for its own sake rather than for an examination, from text books without a tutor.
Todhunter makes interesting comments about text books at the time; dominated by exercises from exams at Oxford and Cambridge; understanding ideas is more important than solving *lots* of problems especially since problems are often designed to separate the sheep from the goats in competitive examinations.
It would indeed be a great resource. I asked Peter Galbraith for permission to scan and post the books on the blog, or wherever best, and he very happily agreed. But, Fitzpatrick’s son declined, for reasons I still cannot fathom.
I know of no location where digital copies may be found.
Well, I found a paperback version available for the pure mathematics book. I hope this one’s legit.
In a unrelated note, if ever Fitzpatrick’s son agrees in letting these books be digitalized into pdf, you can upload them either in libgen, z-library, archive.org, and annas-archive (best one imo).
I have the “core mathematics” book by them. I think it was publish for the QLD syllabus in the 70’s. It’s surprising how clear and to the point the text (mostly) is, especially compared to textbooks currently in print. I’m currently using it to help improve my senior lessons.
Well, the books were just eye candy for the post. But yes, F & G texts are so, so good.
Oh, I didn’t see the scanner at all. I thought it was a light.
Amusingly, it also functions as a light, with various modes.
Gotta love a new toy. Will you use it to digitise books or for displaying documents while lecturing? I used to use a digital projector/scanner while teaching, but it had very poor resolution, and my iPad made it redundant.
Books and articles. I’m interested in enough old and obscure things that it seemed worthwhile. It scans *really* quickly.
It seems people like it as a projector, but it’s not my thing.
Welcome to a digitized world!
I’ve been using something similar to teach the kids. Brilliant effects.
I need to find some spare time later and scan all my collections like you did – time permitting.
I don’t typically scan my own stuff. I scan obscure stuff that I borrow from libraries, often by ILL, which would be a huge pain to get again. I always really hated it, but the speed of this thing is amazing.
These 2 are some of the jewels of my collection too! So many times I have gone to the well of F + G for great examples and exercises.
Yeah, I go back on occasion, particularly when looking how current texts have mangled some topic. I figure its my fantasy memory of the past, that F & G really didn’t do it better, but they really did. And of course they were texts for really excellent exams, so simply the past exam questions included are absolutely beautiful.
Oooh my copies are so tattered. How did you find such pristine copies?
Ps the scanner is cool too.
Theft …
(and good on you for contributing to The Age article on “The Secret of How to Do Good at Maths: do Maths” – quite the plug for edrolo…)
Really? I plugged Edrolo?
You didn’t – you were a measured voice of reason – the article leaned a lot on Edrolo…
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-easy-and-cheap-tip-to-help-students-get-a-40-plus-vce-study-score-20250915-p5mv5u.html
Phew.
“leading maths teacher”. Sheesh.
In NSW, Jim Coroneos wrote many mathematics books; we used one of them for Honours Mathematics in our final year of school; it was typeset rather than printed; unfortunately my mother gave it away to someone who needed it after I had left home; Coroneos started up a publishing company which is still thriving; nice summary of his life is here:
Click to access Jim-Coroneos-Obituary.pdf
Thanks very much, Terry. A lovely obituary.
I have a few Coroneoses, from the mid sixties. I gather these books played the same role in NSW as Fitzpatrick and Galbraith, and Lucas and James, di in Victoria, at least until the late 80s. It may sound shallow, but I find the amateurish typesetting a little off-putting. Even ignoring that, I don’t know that Coroneos has the elegance of F&G. But, God, what a difference from today. And what a difference in the level and the integrity of the mathematics.
Isaac Todhunter FRS (1820-1884) wrote many text books on mathematics in the 19th century. He also wrote a book of essays on education entitled “The conflict of studies and other essays” (1873). One of the essays was entitled “Private study of mathematics” which is focussed on how an individual might learn mathematics, for its own sake rather than for an examination, from text books without a tutor.
Is it any good?
Todhunter makes interesting comments about text books at the time; dominated by exercises from exams at Oxford and Cambridge; understanding ideas is more important than solving *lots* of problems especially since problems are often designed to separate the sheep from the goats in competitive examinations.
I would like to see a scanned pdf document of these two books. Especially the pure mathematics one you got there.
It would indeed be a great resource. I asked Peter Galbraith for permission to scan and post the books on the blog, or wherever best, and he very happily agreed. But, Fitzpatrick’s son declined, for reasons I still cannot fathom.
I know of no location where digital copies may be found.
Well, I found a paperback version available for the pure mathematics book. I hope this one’s legit.
In a unrelated note, if ever Fitzpatrick’s son agrees in letting these books be digitalized into pdf, you can upload them either in libgen, z-library, archive.org, and annas-archive (best one imo).
Congrats! Yes, paperback counts.