The relationship between mental rotation and arithmetic: do number line estimation, working memory, or place‐value concept matter?

Mental rotation is positively related to arithmetic ability; however, the mechanism underlying this relationship remains unclear. The possible roles of working memory, place‐value concept, and number line estimation in the correlation between mental rotation and whole‐number computation were investigated. One hundred and fifty‐five first‐grade students were tested to determine their mental rotation ability, arithmetic ability, and non‐verbal...