Exploring local plausible reasoning: The case of inequality tasks

Abstract

This study explores local plausible reasoning in solving inequality tasks. The study was conducted to 78 students of mathematics education major from a university in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data were collected through written tasks and interviews. The data were analysed by a constant comparative method. The results of the study were the characteristics of local plausible reasoning shown by these behaviours: (1) students applied plausible reasoning in the local part of task solving or (2) students involved a conceptual understanding or a relational understanding in a few part of entirely argumentations. Educators can overcome the students' behaviours by designing a meaningful learning strategy which develops students' plausible reasoning in the whole of task solving.