Definition
Standard algorithm
A conventional written sequence of steps for carrying out an arithmetic operation.
What it means
A standard algorithm is the agreed written route for a type of calculation. Its steps line up place values, work in a fixed order, and regroup when needed. Understanding the place-value reason behind each step matters as well as performing it accurately.
Remember it
Line up the places, follow the agreed steps, and regroup without changing the value.
Example
For 347 + 286, add ones: 7 + 6 = 13, write 3 and regroup 1 ten. Add tens: 4 + 8 + 1 = 13, write 3 and regroup 1 hundred. Add hundreds: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6. The result is 633.
Watch for
A clever method for one special calculation is not automatically a standard algorithm; the procedure must be defined for a whole class of calculations.
Common mix-up
“Standard” does not mean the only valid method. Other strategies can be correct, and curricula may use different standard algorithms.
Exact meaning
A standard algorithm is a widely adopted, precisely specified procedure for an arithmetic operation that uses place-value notation and gives the correct result when its steps are carried out correctly.