Girls and boys solve math problems differently – with similar short-term results but different long-term outcomes

By: Sarah Lubienski, Indiana University; Colleen Ganley, Florida State University, and Martha Makowski, University of Alabama, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 5, 2025

Words: 1,369

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Sarah Lubienski, Indiana University; Colleen Ganley, Florida State University, and Martha Makowski, University of Alabama

Among high school students and adults, girls and women are much more likely to use traditional, step-by-step algorithms to solve basic math problems – such as lining up numbers to add, starting with the ones place, and “carrying over” a number when needed. Boys and men are more likely to use alternative shortcuts, such as rounding both numbers, adding the …

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