How can you identify biases in your math problem-solving approach?

1 Confirmation bias

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek, interpret, or favor information that confirms your existing beliefs or hypotheses. In math problem-solving, this can lead you to ignore or dismiss evidence that contradicts your assumptions or solutions, or to focus only on the aspects of the problem that support your approach. For example, if you are solving a system of equations and you have a preconceived idea of what the answer should be, you may overlook mistakes in your calculations or fail to check your work for accuracy. To avoid confirmation bias, you should be open to alternative perspectives and methods, test your solutions against different scenarios and criteria, and seek feedback from others.

2 Anchoring bias

Anchoring bias is the tendency to rely too much on the first piece of information that you encounter when making judgments or estimates. In math problem-solving, this can lead you to base your solutions on an initial value or reference point, regardless of its relevance or accuracy. For example, if you are solving a word problem and you see a number that seems significant or familiar, you may use it as a starting point or a benchmark for your calculations, even if it is not the best fit for the problem. To avoid anchoring bias, you should consider multiple sources and factors, compare and contrast different values and options, and adjust your estimates as you gather more information.

3 Availability bias

Availability bias is the tendency to judge the likelihood or frequency of an event based on how easily you can recall or imagine examples of it. In math problem-solving, this can lead you to overestimate or underestimate the probability or outcome of a situation, based on your personal experience or exposure. For example, if you are solving a probability problem and you have recently witnessed or heard about a rare or unusual event, you may assume that it is more common or likely than it actually is. To avoid availability bias, you should rely on objective data and statistics, analyze the sample size and representativeness of your information, and question your assumptions and intuitions.

4 Framing bias

Framing bias is the tendency to be influenced by the way that information is presented or worded, rather than by its actual content or meaning. In math problem-solving, this can lead you to interpret or solve a problem differently, depending on how it is phrased or formatted. For example, if you are solving a percentage problem and you see the same value expressed as a fraction, a decimal, or a ratio, you may perceive it differently or use different strategies to work with it. To avoid framing bias, you should be aware of the context and purpose of the problem, understand the implications and consequences of different representations, and use consistent and clear terminology and notation.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?