A working paper from the folks at the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds some key gaps in kids’ understanding of algebra â?? you know, that math the experts say is required for success in 21st century life.
One key gap: multiplication. The kids studied didn’t grab onto multiplication’s â??xâ? as well as they did addition’s â?? .â? And, at times, they tried to magically turn multiplication problems into addition problems as a result of this gap.