Symbol Sense Ability of Students Viewed by Way of Thinking and Understanding in Solving Equations
Siti Kurnia Nurjannah, Sufyani Prabawanto

Departemen Pendidikan Matematika, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No. 229, Bandung 40154, Indonesia

Abstract

Mathematical understanding is the basic ability to understand the nature of mathematical knowledge, which is having abstract objects. The way of thinking is characteristics of a mental act perform by someone and way of understanding is a cognitive product of a mental act. The mental act is obtained by observing statements and actions. Mathematics topic that related to abstract symbols is algebra, which students start to be introduced to symbols that are not only numbers but letters that are abstract. The term symbol sense appears as sensitivity to symbols that considered as an important ability for students. Solving equations is a skill needed to be acquired in learning algebra. This study aims to analyze the way of understanding and the way of thinking students who had symbol sense ability in solving quadratic and rational equation. A qualitative method was conducted and administered to thirty-five high school students. In conclusion, students are able to use symbol sense strategies for solving problems also had their equations concept and algebraic operations which way of thinking they used are flexible in interpret the symbols, able to connect with other concept and subject to the process of algebraic operations.

Keywords: symbol sense, way of thinking, way of understanding, equations

Topic: Mathematics Education