Student difficulties in solving mathematical creative thinking problems on derivative application
Y Hilmi (a*), D Juandi (b), D Usdiyana (b)

a) Pendidikan Matematika, Sekolah Pascasarjana, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung 40154, Indonesia
b) Departemen Pendidikan Matematika, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung 40154, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the difficulties experienced by students in solving mathematical creative thinking problems. Research conducted involved 26 students as research subjects in eleventh grade of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in one of the Senior High School in Tasikmalaya. The research method used in this study was descriptive qualitative in order to describe the difficulties experienced by students in solving creative thinking problems on the topic of derivative application. Problems that are designed refer to mathematical creative thinking indicators including fluency, flexibility, elaboration and originality. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded as follows (1) on the fluency indicator, the majority of students had smoothly applied the concept of function derivatives so that no difficulties were identified, (2) on the flexibility indicator, students had difficulty applying other concepts as a different way, (3) on the elaboration indicator, students had difficulty in constructing the formulas used and (4) on the originality indicators, students had difficulty in representing the shape of images into mathematical equations.

Keywords: Creative thinking, Student difficulties, Derivative application

Topic: Mathematics Education