VOL.8, NO. 9
RECENT BOOKS
eighteen months and contained 549 pages, Volume V for the calendar year 1930 contains 629 p a g e s a n d this without any appreciable expansion in the discussion of the subjects covered. OTTOREINMUTH Associate Editor Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry, 1930. Volume XXVII. The Chemical Society, London, England. Richard Clay & Sons. Ltd., Bungay, Suffolk. England, 1931. 13.5 X 20.5 cm. 10s. Bd. net (postage 6d.). From the teacher's standpoint this survey is in many respects a more useful work than the American. While the range of subjects covered is of necessity somewhat limited, the scope of the reviews is international and a better picture of the progress of theoretical chemistry is presented. The volume contains the following reports: General and Physical Chemistry.
By C. N. HIN-
SHBLWOOD.
Inorganic Chemistry. By H. B ~ s s a r r . or5anie Chcmi~try: Part I-Aliphatic Division. By E. n. F*nnsn. Part 11.-Hamayclk Division. By G. M. nfiNwm.
Part 111.-Heterocyclic
DiviJlon.
B y S. G.
P.
PLANT.
Analytical Chemistry. ELLIS.
By J. J. Pox and B. A.
Biahemistry. By A. C. CHIBNALLand J. Pnvns. Geochemistry. By A. F. H . ~ ~ n u o ~ o . Kadioacfivify and Subatomic Phcnomcna 0919-50). By A. S. Russe~r. E1ectcic:~l Conductivity of Solution.. By (Sm) H . HmrLsu. 0.GATTY,W. A. MACPARLANE. and D. M.MURBAI-RUST.
OTTO REINMUTH Associate Editor Algebraic Charts. EDGAR DEHN. Nomographic Press, New York City, 1930. 26 pp. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $1.50.
.
This text consists of six charts by which it is possible by the use of graphical methods to obtain approximate values of the roots of various algebraic equations. Chart 1 is intended for the solution of quadratic equations with real r w t s ; Chart 2 for cubic equations with real roots; Chart 3 for cubic equations with
1909
imaginary roots: Chart 4 for both quadratic and cuhic equations with real or imaginary root.; Chart 5 for cubic equations with a real root; and Chart 6 for biquadratic equations with a real root. For Charts 2, 3, and 6 the equations to be solved must be converted into a special, "reduced" form; while in Charts 3 and 4 further com~utationsare rewired before the final values of the roots are obtained. As presented, the printed instructions must be followed by "rule-of-thumb" methods by those non-mathematically inclined. The final answers are then only approximate, conditioned by the accuracy of interpolation of a "straigbt-edge," which must he used to read various values from the charts. These charts might be of service to teachers of mathematics in providing iuteresting applications of the principles of analytic geometry and of the theory of algebraic equations. "They would introduce into schools a hit of nomography whose educational merits have not sufficiently been appreciated." CHAS.G. E~CHLIN U ~ l v e a s l r vor' M A R Y L A N D COLLBCD PAPY, M".
MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS Special Jubilee Number, Chemistry & Industry, July, 1931. The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Central House, 46 Finrbnry Square, London. E. C. 2. 272 pp. Price, 10s. "This s~ecialJubilee Number of the Society's Journal contains not only historical information of interest to the members of the Society; it contains short biographies of many notable men and reprints of a number of papers published in earlier volumes of the Journal. These reprints should be of permanent value to those who investigate the history of the chemical industry." The table of contents of this volume includes the following: Introduction, History of the Society. Portraits of members of the Council. History of the Sections. History of the Journal, Presidents and
