Although it may not be an Asian thing, it was very interesting that all of the Asian kids were very good at math (adding/subtracting) yet all could not problem solve. Even when shown how to do it, they could not catch. Other, non-Asian kids who were weaker at math caught on.
Extending a sample size of 4 Asian kids into an Asian stereotype? Wow........ I personally know of several Asian kids who solved this type of problem at age 5, without any help whatsoever. Being good in 3rd-grade math, should at least be about knowing how and when to use addition and subtraction, and more......., instead of merely doing addition and subtraction as a mechanical process, which can even be done by sight at age 3. Those Asian kids you mentioned don't fall into this category of "being good in math". And most likely, they will have trouble pretty soon in learning to do long-form division, which would follow a similar line of reasoning as this type of problem.
