{"pk":29904,"title":"Algebra decoded: individual differences in strategy selection when solving for ’x’","subtitle":null,"abstract":"Understanding variables and solving algebraic equations are essential to advanced mathematical thinking. Missing-operand problems (e.g., x + 3 = 5) are solvable via two strategies: 1) pattern-matching, or direct arithmetic fact retrieval(e.g., 2 + 3 = 5), and 2) algebraic symbol-manipulation, or performing the inverse operation (e.g., 5 3 = 2). U.S. undergrad-uates made speeded verifications of arithmetic sentences like 2 + 3 = 5 and 5 3 = 2. They then solved missing-operandproblems like x + 3 = 5. We decoded individual differences in strategy choice by whether speed on missing-operandproblems was better predicted by speed on verifying direct- or inverse-matched arithmetic facts. We found individualdifferences in strategy choice, although these were not significantly associated with mathematical achievement.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Poster Session 2","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1q46k4p9","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Jeffrey","middle_name":"","last_name":"Bye","name_suffix":"","institution":"University of Minnesota","department":""},{"first_name":"Rina","middle_name":"","last_name":"Harsch","name_suffix":"","institution":"University of Minnesota","department":""},{"first_name":"Sashank","middle_name":"","last_name":"Varma","name_suffix":"","institution":"University of Minnesota","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"2020-01-01T18:00:00Z","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/cognitivesciencesociety/article/29904/galley/19758/download/"}]}