Mathematical representation process analysis of students in solving contextual problem based on Polya's strategy

Abstract

This research is aimed to analyse mathematical representation process of Grade 8th students in SMPN 6 Malang in solving contextual problem based on Polya's Strategy. This research is descriptive qualitative research. The research subjects in this research are grade 8th students in SMPN 6 Malang that have already learned this topic. Instrument that be used are problem and interview instruction. The problem consist of two tracer problems and one contextual problem which are related with straight line equation, gradient of straight line, and its graphic. The research is begun by doing two tracer problems and one contextual problem by students. Based on students' work results, students are categorized into 3 groups. The first group consists of students that can represent the contextual problem into three kinds of representation (symbolic, visual, and verbal), the second group consists of students that can represent the contextual problems into two kinds of representation (visual and verbal), and the third group consists of students that can only represent contextual problem into only one representation (verbal). From each groups, 1 subject is interviewed about contextual problem solving based on Polya's strategy. The research result shows that students are able to use more than one representation to solve contextual problem, but it still can be found student that can use only one mathematical representation, that is verbal representation.