Frequently asked questions

What does Panamath stand for?

The "pana" in Panamath stands for Psychological Assessment of Numerical Ability. The acronym also highlights how the approximate number system is found everywhere—in people and in animals all over the world.

Is this free?

Panamath is a free and downloadable program that is intended for not-for-profit usage.

Can the makers of Panamath see my data?

The program may be used for both personal and professional purposes. You retain all rights to any data you generate using Panamath, so long as you do not use the program for any sort of monetary gain. You can read our Terms and Conditions here.

Who can use Panamath?

Although many of Panamath's users have been researchers or educators, anyone is free to download and try out the program. We have several different versions of Panamath - the brief demo, the online version, and the configurable software application - that are available for you to use.

What does Panamath measure?

Panamath measures how precise an individual's Approximate Number System is by presenting subjects with differing quantities of colored circles for a short time span and asking which colored group contained more circles. This ability to estimate a "ballpark figure" is found in both people and animals alike.

Why use Panamath?

Recent research has suggested that there may be a correlation between a student's achievement in school math and his/her approximate number sense. By allowing us to measure how precise someone's Approximate Number System is, Panamath may help us find ways to improve our school curricula and be used in everyday applications to improve your number sense.

Whom do I cite when I use Panamath?

If you use Panamath, please cite the following journal article:

Halberda, J., Mazzocco, M., & Feigenson, L. (2008). Individual differences in nonverbal number acuity predict maths achievement. Nature, 455, 665-668.

If you would like to add anything to the FAQ, please contact us.