A traditional question is whether or not computers shall ever think like humans. This question is redirected to a discussion of whether computers shall ever be truly creative. Creativity is defined and a program is described that is designed to complete creatively a series problem in mathematics. (MP)

A history of perfect numbers is presented, which briefly covers the 27 values known at this time. (MP)

Two alternatives are given to the decomposition and equal addition subtraction algorithms. (MK)

Common mistakes pupils make when adding fractions are categorized and analyzed. (MP)

There are many uses for the shortest path algorithm presented which are limited only by our ability to recognize when a problem may be converted into the shortest path in a graph representation. (Author/TG)

Proposes a programing design curriculum based on three conceptual areas: process, symbolic representation, and methods of interpretation; and describes computer games and simulations in which design skills of simple and conditional sequencing, rule or constraint specification, hypothesis testing, and modeling are employed. (Author/CMV)

The article presents a general test for divisibility that includes composite numbers and shows that such a test can be used to determine divisibility by several numbers simultaneously. (MK)

An algorithm for multiplying natural numbers is described. The algorithm provides a chance for some unusual drill and might serve as an enrichment topic. (MK)

Suggestions for teaching the concept of division by zero are given. (MK)

Four different types of problems from graph theory are presented and discussed. (MK)

Suggestions are given for teaching flowcharting at the elementary school level. A short list of sources for free materials on computers is included. (DT)

Reviews the historical development of subtraction algorithms used in the United States. Indicates that the algorithms used to teach subtraction have not changed much in the last 40 years, but in the late 1800s and early 1900s, different algorithms were developed that had a great impact. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Comparison of the computation ability in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of 155 students (ages 9-14) with learning disabilities (LD) and 266 normally achieving (NA) students demonstrated that NA students outperformed students with LD. Students with LD had more algorithmic errors, and failed to show growth patterns by age. NA…

Explains the use of genetic algorithms to combine results from multiple query evaluations to improve relevance in information retrieval. Discusses niching techniques, relevance feedback techniques, and evolution heuristics, and compares retrieval results obtained by both genetic multiple query evaluation and classical single query evaluation…

A general approach for fitting a model to a data matrix by weighted least squares (WLS) is studied. The approach consists of iteratively performing steps of existing algorithms for ordinary least squares fitting of the same model and is based on maximizing a function that majorizes WLS loss function. (Author/SLD)