Analysis of student's proof construction on exponents

Abstract

This research is a descriptive research that aims to describe the construction of student's proof on exponents. Proof construction is compiling proof from a statement based on the definitions and rules used. The subject of research were students of class X IPA from SMAN 10 Palembang which consisted of 38 students. The learning process takes place according to the steps of direct learning. The technique of collecting data that used on this research was written test consisting of three problem descriptions. The collected data were analyzed by evaluating the proof of the student work consisting of three assessment categories as follows: Arguments are valid and are proof (K1), general arguments are valid but not proof (K2) and cannot strive to be a valid general argument that is an invalid or incomplete (K3).The research result shows that the construction of student's proof on exponents was still in the K3 categories, with details as follows: Students categorized K1 (Arguments are valid and are proof) are 38.6%, students categorized K2 (general arguments are valid but not proof are 17.5% and students categorized K3 (cannot strive to be a valid general argument that is an invalid or incomplete) are 43.9%. Students who are categorized K1 as a whole are able to perform constructive proof properly. Students categorized K2 are still not able to perform constructive proof caused by mistakes in mathematical manipulation so that it shows the illogical thing. Students who are categorized K3 are still not able to perform constructive proof caused by not being able to utilize the definitions and rules to be used in proving so that the proof done is invalid or unfinished.