Home
A new algorithm for column addition
Schedule and location
Time slot: 
WS-II on Wednesday 9, 17:00 – 19:00
Building: 
C
Room: 
102
Author(s): 
Patricia Baggett, Professor Dept of Mathematical Sciences MSC 3MB, PO Box 80001 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 USA baggett@nmsu.edu Andrzej Ehrenfeucht, Distinguished Professor Computer Science Department PO Box 430 University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309-0430 USA andrzej@research.cs.colorado.edu our website http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~breakingaway
Language: 
English
Keywords: 
Algorithm, column addition, whole numbers and decimals, elementary school mathematics, hands-on math
Abstract: 

A new algorithm for column addition
Abstract for workshop

Participants will learn in a hands-on manner a modern version of an old “dot algorithm” for column addition of whole numbers and decimals. This new “dot” algorithm is at least as efficient as the “standard” written algorithm currently taught in schools, but it has two advantages over the standard one: It is easier to use, especially for adding more than two numbers; and it is not “mechanical”. Users can develop their own strategies based on patterns of digits in one column to make computation both faster and easier. This makes the new algorithm more challenging and interesting.
The theoretical underpinnings of the “dot” algorithm, historical data, and some comments of people who have already learned it will be given in the workshop and in a handout

Intended audience
The workshop is intended for teachers in elementary grades, educators interested in early math education, and educators interested in the use of algorithms at any level of schooling. The number of participants can be rather large (~50) because the only tools needed are paper, pencil and erasers.

Goals
Participants will learn in a hands-on fashion a new algorithm for column addition that may be a valid alternative to the “standard” addition algorithm taught in the early grades. They also will be provided with some background information about both current and historical uses of the “standard” algorithm in US schools, and on the theoretical criteria for comparing different algorithms. Participants will be given a handout covering this material. (See the Appendix attached below.)