Mental computation performance : strategies, perceptions and gender difference of secondary two students

Abstract

Mental computation is a useful skill in everyday life and its strategies are related to the understanding of the structure of number system. The objective of this study is to investigate the mental computation performance of secondary two students in Singapore and their mental strategies. The gender difference in mental computation performance together with students' perceptions towards mental computation are also studied. In addition, the study examines the relationship between students' school mathematics achievement and their mental computation skills.