Students' number sense on fraction problems

Abstract

This study aims to reveal how students' number sense is used for solving fraction problems using a descriptive qualitative study design. Nine seventh grade students in Palembang was involved in this study who were selected purposively. Data were collected using a constructed-response test and interview. In taking the test and interview, participants were accompanied by a teacher who taught at the school, considering that they did not hesitate to communicate with the teacher and participants had studied fractions with that teacher. The instrument in this study consisted of four number sense problems that were related to fractions. This study showed that all participants could only fulfil one number sense component, namely the number of operations. The students were capable of operating fractions, but they did not possess the conceptual understanding.