CRITICAL THINKING PROFILE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOLVING WORD PROBLEMS IN THE MATERIALS OF COMPOSITION AND INVERS FUNCTION BASED ON MATHEMATICAL ABILITIES

Abstract

Many students tend to be trained to do mathematical calculating rather than mathematical thinking. Basicly, mathematical thinking was related to critical thinking, which is a high-level thinking ability. Thus, mathematical problem that suitable for this research is word problem. The materials chosen were composition and invers function because it requires mathematical modeling in solving process that leads students to have critical thinking processes. The purpose of this research is to describe the critical thinking profile of high school students in solving word problems in the materials of composition and invers function based on critical thinking indicators such as clarification, assessment, inference, and strategies that appear in each stage of Polya’s problem solving. The type of this research is qualitative descriptive by using test and interview methods. The subjects of this research consist of three students determined by high, medium, and low levels mathematical abilities. The results showed that critical thinking profile of student with high-level mathematical ability was write the answers on the blank paper first. While, student with medium-level mathematical ability was compare the completion between using function and not. Compared with them, student with low-level mathematical ability had many difficulties to through the critical thinking indicators.

Keywords: critical thinking profile, word problems, composition and invers function, mathematical abilities.