Parsing algebraic expressions is always a pain. If you need to compute, say, 2+4*2, the answer should be the same as (2 + (4 *2)), not ((2 + 4) * 2) — in other words, the right answer is 10, not 12.

Research focusing on algebra from primary to early secondary school level has made several major advances over the past decades. Students' difficulties have been identified and supportive teaching and ...