Watching mathematicians read mathematics

Abstract

This report contributes to the debate about whether expert mathematicians skim-read mathematical proofs before engaging in detailed line-by-line reading. It reviews the conflicting introspective and behavioural evidence, then reports a new study of expert mathematicians' eye movements as they read both entire research-level mathematics papers and individual proofs within those papers. Our analysis reveals no evidence of skimming, and we discuss the implications of this for research and pedagogy

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