An assessment of the possible effect of mathematics symbol instruction on achievement in word problems was the main thrust of the study. Two null hypotheses were tested in the study. The non-equivalent group pre-testpost-test quasi-experimentalresearch design was adopted. The multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 387…

Over the last several centuries, mathematicians have developed sophisticated symbol systems to represent ideas often imperceptible to their five senses. Although conventional definitions exist for these notations, individuals attribute their personalized meanings to these symbols during their mathematical activities. In some instances, students…

Mathematical symbols, such as those embodying quantum concepts, are indispensable for conveying complex ideas and relationships in academic writing. However, some education researchers and students keep a distance from anything mathematical: algebraic equations, geometrical reasoning, or statistical symbols. How to lower the access threshold for…

Perceptual learning theory suggests that perceptual grouping in mathematical expressions can direct students' attention toward specific parts of problems, thus impacting their mathematical reasoning. Using in-lab eye tracking and a sample of 85 undergraduates from a STEM-focused university, we investigated how higher-order operator position (HOO;…

Mathematics education in post-colonial Malta is experienced bilingually by teachers and students. I was recently involved in the publication of a bilingual (English / Maltese) glossary of mathematics terms relevant to early childhood and elementary classes. Work on the glossary involved compiling already existing Maltese mathematics terms and also…

Understanding of the equal sign is associated with early algebraic competence in the elementary grades and equation-solving success in middle school. Thus, it is important to find ways to build foundational understanding of the equal sign as a relational symbol. Past work promoted a conception of the equal sign as meaning "the same as".…

The ability to efficiently compare number symbols, such as digits, is associated with mathematics competence across the lifespan. Performance on symbolic number comparison tasks differ across age groups; young students who are developing fluency with digits improve on symbolic number comparison, and performance is better in adults than children.…

In numerical cognition research, the operational momentum (OM) phenomenon (tendency to overestimate the results of addition and/or binding addition to the right side and underestimating subtraction and/or binding it to the left side) can help illuminate the most basic representations and processes of mental arithmetic and their development. This…

New perspectives on executive functions propose a greater involvement of context. These perspectives have implications for research in mathematical cognition. We tackle the problem that although individuals clearly exercise inhibitory control in mathematical contexts, researchers find that the relations between inhibitory control and mathematics…

Recently, abstracted quantitative structures (AQS), a construct from quantitative reasoning, has been offered as a means to conceptualize and study mathematization during mathematical modeling. Extending this theoretical work, we provide empirical evidence that an intervention targeting participants' AQS can assist in aligning modelers' models…

The ability to interpret mathematical symbols and understand how they capture contextual relationships is a critical element of algebraic thinking. More often than not, students see algebra as merely a list of rules for manipulating abstract symbols, with limited to no meaning. Instead, for students to see algebra as a powerful tool and rich way…

Experimentally manipulating Approximate Number System (ANS) precision has been found to influence children's subsequent symbolic math performance. Here in three experiments (N = 160; 81 girls; 3-5 year old) we replicated this effect and examined its duration and developmental trajectory. We found that modulation of 5-year-olds' ANS precision…

An understanding of the equal sign is a fundamental concept for early algebra. While literature claimed that Chinese students commonly master the relational understanding of the equal sign in the elementary school, these claims are under-researched. This study used the Mathematics Equivalence Assessment with 237 Chinese Grade 5 students. The…

Learning mathematics involves abstract thinking and the use of symbols. To be successful in a mathematics classroom, students must master what symbols mean and how they work. Much prior work has focused on the nature of the external representations used in mathematics instruction, including manipulatives and symbolic representations. In this work,…

Children's word problem competence is a major determinant of their career prospects. Abstract word (AW) comprehension and equal sign knowledge (ESK) are considered the foundation of discourse comprehension and pre-algebra skills, respectively. However, the link between AW and ESK in relation to the meaningful agent representative information…