Subtraction fluency predicts third-grade multiplication fluency on par with addition fluency, with a similar emergent working memory association¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? The subtraction fluency construct strongly predicted multiplication skill, and, as in the addition model, a novel significant working memory association emerged after partialling out subtraction fluency. → Rautiainen 2026

Evidence¶

Rautiainen 2026¶

Rautiainen, J., Aro, T., Aro, M., Tolvanen, A., & Koponen, T. (2026). Hierarchical Nature of Arithmetic Skills: Similarities and Differences Between Arithmetic Operations. Journal of Educational Psychology, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0001066

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Subtraction fluency latent SEM model in the longitudinal study (n = 207). The article reports "The subtraction construct strongly predicted multiplication skill" and that numerical abilities remained, similar to the addition model; the model explained R2 = .42 (R2 = .50 prior residualization).

"The subtraction construct strongly predicted multiplication skill. After partialling out the covariance with subtraction fluency, the strong association that was previously present in the baseline from numerical abilities to multiplication fluency remained, similar to the addition model."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Addition fluency captures more shared variance with serial retrieval fluency than subtraction fluency does — related
• Addition fluency strongly predicts third-grade multiplication fluency, and a significant working memory association emerges after controlling for addition fluency — related
• Numerical abilities and serial retrieval fluency predict third-grade multiplication fluency, while working memory shows no significant association in the baseline model — related
• In the reading fluency contrast model, numerical abilities and serial retrieval fluency predict multiplication fluency but working memory does not, indicating partial domain-specificity — related