A structured system of visual features is seen to parallel the propositional hierarchy of operations usually associated with the parsing of algebraic expressions. Women more than men were found to depend on these visual cues. Possible causes and consequences are discussed. Subjects were secondary and college students. (Author/DC)

The interactive effects between mathematical achievement and manipulative v symbolic instruction with junior high school students are examined in this report. Low-achieving students benefited more from a manipulative approach to logical connectives, whereas high achieving students found the symbolic approach to be more effective. (MP)