Perry’s Teaching of Mathematics (London, 1902), pp. 59-61.
[540]. Remember this, the rule for giving an extempore lecture is—let [the] mind rest from the subject entirely for an interval preceding the lecture, after the notes are prepared; the thoughts will ferment without your knowing it, and enter into new combinations; but if you keep the mind active upon the subject up to the moment, the subject will not ferment but stupefy.—De Morgan, A.
Letter to Hamilton; Graves: Life of W. R. Hamilton (New York, 1882-1889), Vol. 3, p. 487.
CHAPTER VI
STUDY AND RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS
[601]. The first thing to be attended to in reading any algebraic treatise is the gaining a perfect understanding of the different processes there exhibited, and of their connection with one another. This cannot be attained by the mere reading of the book, however great the attention which may be given. It is impossible in a mathematical work to fill up every process in the manner in which it must be filled up in the mind of the student before he can be said to have completely mastered it. Many results must be given of which the details are suppressed, such are the additions, multiplications, extractions of square roots, etc., with which the investigations abound. These must not be taken on trust by the student, but must be worked out by his own pen, which must never be out of his own hand while engaged in any mathematical process.—De Morgan, A.
Study and Difficulties of Mathematics (Chicago, 1902), chap. 12.
[602]. The student should not lose any opportunity of exercising himself in numerical calculation and particularly in the use of logarithmic tables. His power of applying mathematics to questions of practical utility is in direct proportion to the facility which he possesses in computation.—De Morgan,A.
Study and Difficulties of Mathematics (Chicago, 1902), chap. 12.