How do diagrams and illustrations affect mathematical problem solving? Past research suggests that diagrams should promote correct performance. However, illustrations may provide a supportive context for problem solving, or they may distract students with seductive details. Moreover, effects may not be uniform across student subgroups. This study…

Many types of visual representations are used in math textbooks but not all of them contain mathematically relevant information. Little research directly addresses the effects of different types of representations on mathematics performance. Theories offer differing perspectives about how visual representations such as illustrations influence…