Representasi Matematis Siswa SMP dalam Meyelesaikan Masalah Segiempat Ditinjau dari Perbedaan Jenis Kelamin

Abstract

Mathematical representation has an important role to help students understand and solve quadrilateral problems in mathematics learning. Students will use different forms of mathematical representation to solve a quadrilateral problem. This allows that the form of mathematical representation used by male and female students is different. The purpose of this study was to describe the mathematical representation of male and female junior high school students in solving quadrilateral problems. This research is classified into descriptive qualitative research using test and interview methods. The results of this study indicate that male students use visual-spatial representations in the form of images to represent an object that is in the problem solving test. In addition, they use visual-spatial representations and formal-notational representations to reveal information about a problem. During the problem solving process, dominant male students use formal-notational representation. They also explained verbally each step of the completion in detail and in order. Dominant female students use formal-notational representation to write information and solve a problem. To represent an object in a problem solving test, they use visual-spatial representations. Female students also use verbal representations to explain each step of solving problems.

Keywords: mathematical representation, quadrilateral problems, gender