A clever math shortcut could reveal your problem-solving superpower

Researchers studying math problem-solving approaches found that students who use creative shortcuts instead of step-by-step procedures perform better on abstract problem-solving tasks. In a study of 213 high school students, only 18% of boys used procedural methods for all problems compared to 52% of girls, with those avoiding procedures showing stronger problem-solving abilities. This tendency may explain why girls often earn better grades but struggle more on unfamiliar problems in high-stakes testing.