A computer simulation of children's arithmetic word-problem solving

Abstract

ARITHPRO is a computer simulation of children's arithmetic word-problem solving behavior. It is an instantiation of a recently proposed cognitive model of the knowledge and procedures required to solve such problems. The program solves word problems by (1) comprehending the story text in which the problem is embedded, (2) comprehending numerical information as sets of objects, (3) building superstructures from these sets, thereby specifying their logical relations, and (4) using a counting procedure to derive the answer to the problem. This report describes ARITHPRO and its architecture and knowledge base. A few comparisons of ARITHPRO's performance with that of children are also provided. © 1986 Psychonomic Society, Inc.