The jump from numbers to variables
What it looks like: Arithmetic was fine, but 3x plus 5 equals 20 produces a shrug. The abstraction of a letter standing for a number never clicked, so every problem feels like a new trick.
How our tutors help: Our tutors ground variables in reasoning students already do: what number makes this true? Balance models and real contexts come first, notation second. Once the concept lands, the mechanics finally have something to attach to.

