"MATHEMATICS AND CHEMISTRY": 



A REPLY 



By JAMES RIDDICK PARTINGTON, M.Sc. 



In a recent issue of Science Progress (January 191 2) there is 

 contained a very interesting discussion on the relation between 

 mathematics and chemistry, between mathematicians and 

 chemists and between chemists and chemists, in which the 

 author, in addition to a criticism of the present conditions, 

 has given us what is very much more valuable, a suggestion of 

 what he considers to be a satisfactory method of remedying 

 their inherent faults. Since my text-book {Higher Mathematics 

 for Chemical Students-. Methuen & Co., London, 191 1) has 

 been mentioned as the source of inspiration of the article and 

 as the author says explicitly that his statements "may serve 

 to induce discussion or criticism," I may take this opportunity 

 of expressing my own views on what are undoubtedly matters 

 of increasing importance, viz. the utility of a knowledge of 

 mathematics to the chemist and the way in which he can 

 acquire that knowledge most profitably. Although the majority 

 of the statements made in Mr. Worley's essay are likely to 

 meet with hearty assent from any one who approaches the 

 subject without bias on either side, yet there are certain views 

 expressed which appear to be highly controversial and as such 

 call for discussion. 



It would seem that the discussion must necessarily involve 

 the answering of questions such as the following : 



(1) Is it desirable that chemists should be taught higher 

 mathematics ? 



(2) How much should they be taught ? 



(3) In what way should the instruction be given? 

 Besides these questions of pedagogic interest, there is also 



the problem of the general relation between mathematics and 

 chemistry which has received due consideration in Mr. Worley's 

 paper. He has examined not only the relation between the 

 two sciences but also those between their followers. From 



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