An algorithm is a sequence of steps or instructions that outline how to solve a particular problem. One can think of an algorithm as a problem-solving formula or recipe. The term "algorithm" derives its name from alKhwarizmi (c. 780–c. 850), an Arab mathematician who wrote an influential book on algebraic methods.

In the Hindu-Arabic number system, often referred to as the Arabic system, ten numerals or digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) are used in a sequence to form a number. Each digit, when the number is written in expanded form, represents a multiple of a power of ten; for example, 247 = 2 × 10² + 4 × 10¹ + 2 × 10⁰. Therefore, this number system is called a base-10, or decimal, number system.

An algorithm that uses ten to an integer power n, 10ⁿ, to perform calculations is a base-10 algorithm. Many of the rules that are used in fundamental arithmetic are actually algorithms for the base-10 system.

The base-...