CRITICAL JOURNAL

SELECTED TOPICS IN MATHEMATIC

CREATED BY:

NAME: CHELSEA MAYTHREE(4163312003)

EKLESYA BONITA(

BILINGUAL MATHEMATIC EDUCATION

MATHEMATIC DAPARTEMENT
FACULTY OF MATHEMATIC AND SCIENCE
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
2018
 FOREWORD

The praise and gratitude of the authors pray to God Almighty for His blessings and grace that
gives health and wisdom to the author so that this "critical journal review" can be completed
well and on time. The authors hope that this "critical journal review" can add knowledge and
insight to readers who want to explore the material contained in this "critical journal review".
The author has done his best to accomplish this task. However, the author realizes there are
still many weaknesses contained in this "critical journal review". To the authors expect
suggestions and constructive criticism from this readers to "critical journal review"
 SUMMARY

1. PRELIMINARY

Learning difficulties are caused by problems experienced in the brain receive,

process, analyze, and store information. Mathematics requires systematic thinking. In
addition to receiving materials, students required to process and analyze the contents of the
problem. After analyzing the contents of the problem, students are required to work
according to the information that students get previous. Sometimes students find it difficult to
connect what is has student analysis in the matter with material that students received before,
because students tend to memorize what the teacher has taught without knowing clearly the
material presented by the teacher. The subjects of mathematics consist of various interrelated
chapters one another. The chapter relating to other chapters in mathematics is wrong the only
is the algebra chapter of functions. The important algebra chapter function is studied because
algebra function is the basis of other mathematical chapters. Examples of chapters are related
to linear program functions, function composition, inverse function, limit functions, function
derivatives, integral functions, and so forth. If students experience difficulties in the function
chapter, then it tends students will have difficulty with other function chapters to be discussed
at the next level. From the above problems the purpose of this study is to describe difficulties
and factors that cause students difficulty in solving problems algebra functions on the subject
matter determine the function form and function graph.

2. RESEARCH METHODS

This type of research is descriptive qualitative research. Place of study done in SMP
Negeri 1 Surakarta. Research subjects are teachers and students of the class VIII SMP Negeri
1 Surakarta first semester of academic year 2015/2016. Based on recommendations from
teachers, selected class VIII E because this class has an average mathematics learning
achievement is lower than other classes. Data collection techniques used in this study include:
(1) Observation is used to obtain data about mathematics learning conducted by teachers and
students on the learning process of mathematics,

(2) Tests are used to obtain data on the number of items the questions answered right or
wrong by the students and then the data is processed in a way analyze the difficulty aspect,
(3) the interview is used to collect data about students' difficulties in solving the function
problem,

(4) documentation used to know the school data and the list of names of students of class VIII
SMP Negeri 1 Surakarta as an object of research.

Data analysis technique used in this research is:

 (1) Reduction data include recording interviews and observations of students and teachers,
researchers also collect documentation data relating to difficulties

students in solving function problems,

(2) Presentation of data covering presents data in the form of text, narrative, and the form of
notes the results of interviews with students and teachers who may be able to give
conclusions about student difficulties in solving the problem of determining the function form
and function graph,

(3) Make the conclusion presented in text form to know the difficulty and factors that cause
students difficulty in solving related problems by determining the function form and function
graph.

Data validity is done by triangulation. Technique the most widely used triangulation
is checking through other sources. According to Patton in Moleong, Triangulation with
source means compare and check back the degree of confidence of an information obtained
through time and different tools in qualitative research. In this research is selected
triangulation is to compare the test result data, observations, and interviews with students.

3. RESEARCH RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Based on the results of student tests in working on the function especially the subject
matter discussion determines the function form and function graph, hence obtained
difficulties - difficulties that students do and to know which factors causing student
difficulties as follows:

1. Student difficulties in calculating

The difficulty in this aspect is the difficulties that students experience in perform
calculations on the material function especially the subject matter determine the function
form. The difficulties students experience in this aspect occur on questions 1 and 2 as
follows:
 Students who have difficulty in question number 1 only one person. From the results
of students' answers proved that the weakness of students in completing this problem is in
completing the division operation. At the time of the interview asked the same question the
student can answer correctly but inside answer sheets wrong students do. When researchers
ask why at answer sheets answer wrong, student said: "I rush bu". That matter shows there
are students who do the problem in a hurry so causing erroneous calculations.

Students who have difficulty in question number 2 counted 4 people. The difficulty of
the students in solving this problem is largely in terms of complete the count operation. At
the interview, if asked about which the students can answer correctly while the student
answer sheet wrong doing. When the researcher asks why on the student answer sheet wrong
doing, students said: "less rigid bu, rush". That matter shows there are students who do less
carefully so causing erroneous calculations.

2. Student difficulties interpret symbols

Student difficulties in this aspect are the difficulties students experience in

interpreting the symbols in the process of solving a particular function problem the subject
matter determines the functional form. Difficulties experienced by students in interpreting
very low symbols because of the students who experienced difficulty only one person. The
difficulties students experience in this aspect done on number 3 as follows:

Students who have difficulty in question number 3 only one person.

 From the results of students' answers proved that the weakness of students in
completing this problem is less to look at what is asked in the matter. When interview, if
asked the same questions students can work with true but the result of student answer sheet
did not work properly. Moments interview asked why the answer is different and wrong, the
student said: "In a hurry, afraid to run out of time". It shows there are students who work in a
hurry so wrong in interpreting symbol.

4. Conclusion

Based on the results of data analysis and discussion of this study state that: a. The
difficulties of students of class VIII E SMP Negeri 1 Surakarta in solving the problem algebra
functions in particular the subject matter determines the form of functions and graphs
function there are three aspects of difficulty that is:

1) Student difficulties in counting include the difficulties students complete operation

calculations with less precise answers.

2) Student difficulties interpreting symbols include students' difficulties within understand

the symbols and the students do not pay close attention to what is asked inside question.

3) The difficulties students understand about the material include the lack of student
understanding to the material function especially the subject of function graph.

b. Factors - factors that cause students class VIII E SMP Negeri 1 Surakarta have difficulty in
solving algebra problem especially principal functions discussion determines the function
form and function graph as follows:

1) Students are less thorough in solving the problem.

2) Students rush in solving problems.

3) Students difficulties in distinguishing the problem of the area of the node results - the node
is connected to the line or not connected to the line.
 Weaknesses and Advantages of Journals:

Weakness:

1. This journal only explains how to do the function without explaining the concept first

2. The contents of his journal is not interesting.

Advantages:

1. This journal has many many examples so it is easy to understand it

2. This journal explains in detail

3. This journal is great for students who want to be a teacher in teaching their students