From 1957, the University of Maryland Mathematics Project, directed by John R. Mayor of the School of Education at Maryland, sought to develop new materials for junior high school mathematics students that would introduce more abstract mathematical ideas to these students. By the early 1960s, experimental textbooks were in use in some Maryland schools. This work led to published textbooks, such as this one. The authors, all of whom had been associated with the University of Maryland, were associate director Mervin L. Keedy, later of Purdue University; participating teacher Richard E. Jameson, who went on to teach at Yorktown Senior High School in Arlington, Virginia; and Patricia L. Johnson who became a resource teacher in secondary mathematics for the Montgomery County, Maryland, public schools. Thapter topics include the system of integers, geometry, exponents and scientific notation, rational numbers, solving equations. Polynomials, and applied problems.