Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them?

Our previous article, Algorithms are great: Understanding them is even better, presented evidence from students and suggested that some were attempting to use written algorithms without having an adequate level of understanding of what they were doing and why. This article will describe some of...

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Main Authors: Hurst, Chris, Hurrell, Derek
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80387
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author Hurst, Chris
Hurrell, Derek
author_facet Hurst, Chris
Hurrell, Derek
author_sort Hurst, Chris
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Our previous article, Algorithms are great: Understanding them is even better, presented evidence from students and suggested that some were attempting to use written algorithms without having an adequate level of understanding of what they were doing and why. This article will describe some of the essential mathematics that underpins the use of algorithms through a series of learning pathways. The graphic below depicts the mathematical ideas and concepts that underpin the learning of algorithms for multiplication and division. The understanding and use of algorithms is informed by two important ideas—grid multiplication and extended multiplication facts. The graphic combines a number of learning pathways that lead to those two ideas. The discussion that follows shows how each element builds part of the underpinning structure needed to understand algorithms and to use them efficiently.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-803872020-09-03T07:24:16Z Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them? Hurst, Chris Hurrell, Derek Our previous article, Algorithms are great: Understanding them is even better, presented evidence from students and suggested that some were attempting to use written algorithms without having an adequate level of understanding of what they were doing and why. This article will describe some of the essential mathematics that underpins the use of algorithms through a series of learning pathways. The graphic below depicts the mathematical ideas and concepts that underpin the learning of algorithms for multiplication and division. The understanding and use of algorithms is informed by two important ideas—grid multiplication and extended multiplication facts. The graphic combines a number of learning pathways that lead to those two ideas. The discussion that follows shows how each element builds part of the underpinning structure needed to understand algorithms and to use them efficiently. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80387 fulltext
spellingShingle Hurst, Chris
Hurrell, Derek
Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them?
title Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them?
title_full Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them?
title_fullStr Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them?
title_full_unstemmed Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them?
title_short Algorithms are Great: What about the mathematics that underpins them?
title_sort algorithms are great: what about the mathematics that underpins them?
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80387