Students Difficulties in Constructing Mathematical Models in The System of Linear Equations with Two Variables Muhammad Ridha(a*), Suhendra(a)
a) Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No.229, Isola, Kec. Sukasari, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40154, Indonesia
*muhammadridha[at]upi.edu
Abstract
One factor in the low ability of students to solve mathematical problems is the inability of students to construct sentences into mathematical models. Based on that phenomenon, this study aims to determine the causes of students experiencing difficulties in constructing mathematical models through word problems in the system of linear equations with two variables topic. The research was conducted with a descriptive analysis approach. Subjects were students with average abilities as seen from the answers and daily activities of students based on initial observations. Data were analyzed using data reduction steps, and conclusions. The results of this study concluded that students with average abilities could understand the problems referred to the questions but had not been able to construct the mathematical model, the reasons were that students did not understand the model construction procedures well, and students also could not connect mathematical sentences correctly, did not understand the use of operations of sum and similarity sign.
Keywords: The difficulty of learning mathematics, mathematical models, two-variable linear equation system.
