Conceptual knowledge of the associativity principle: a review of the literature and an agenda for future research

Individuals use diverse strategies to solve mathematical problems, which can reflect their knowledge of arithmetic principles and predict mathematical expertise. For example, ‘6 + 38 − 35’ can be solved via ‘38 − 35 = 3’ and then ‘3 + 6 = 9’, which is a shortcut-strategy derived from the associativity principle. The shortcut may be critical for understanding algebra, however approximately 50% of adults fail to use it. We review the research to consider why the associativity principle is challenging and highlight an important distinction between shortcut identification and execution. We also discuss how domain-specific skills and domain-general skills might play an important role in shortcut identification and execution, and provide an agenda for future research.