HARNESSING AI-POWERED TOOLS IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION TO IMPROVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS FOR ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT

Abstract

Can AI tools like ChatGPT genuinely enhance how students solve mathematical problems? This study investigates the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistance on undergraduate students' accuracy and speed during a mathematical reasoning task. A total of 92 students from Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: one used traditional resources (e.g., textbooks and class notes), while the other used ChatGPT during a test on the sum to infinity of a geometric series. Accuracy was scored using a 3-point rubric, and completion time was recorded in seconds. Students in the AI-assisted group demonstrated significantly higher accuracy compared to the traditional group with no significant difference with respect to the time completion. An exploratory analysis revealed a modest negative correlation between accuracy and speed, suggesting that more accurate students tended to complete the task slightly faster. These findings indicate that AI might support mathematical reasoning without promoting shortcuts or diminishing effort. This has important implications for the integration of AI in education, particularly in fostering both correctness and thoughtful engagement in problem-solving.