The Role of Visual Representation in Mathematical Problem Solving

The objective of this study was to determine the role of diagrams in solving word problems. Many studies that focused on this topic concluded that when students were shown how to implement schematic diagrams in their solutions, they were more successful in achieving correct answers. Students were separated into two groups; a group that received instruction on creating and employing schematic diagrams in solving three different problem types, and a group that were given problems to solve without any instructional support. Despite detailed instruction and increased completion time, there was no considerable difference in the final results of the students, with respect to their use of diagrams and the correctness of their solutions