STUDENTS' ABILITY TO SOLVE MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS THROUGH POLYA STEPS

Abstract

Students' mathematical problem-solving skills are still low, and students are not yet familiar with such problems. This research describes students' ability to solve mathematical problems, especially geometry, based on the Polya stages. The research design uses a qualitative approach with 40 students of Besitang 1 State Junior High School students. Case studies become data analysis techniques; then, data analysis is carried out by reducing, presenting, and verifying data. Finally, check the validity of the data by triangulating the data source. The results of the analysis obtained that students' ability to understand the problems and devise a plan was at intervals of 3 as much as 60% with good categories, carrying out the plan at intervals of 1 < x ≤ 2 as many as 73% of categories is sufficient and looking back at intervals of 0 < x ≤ 1 as much as 78% of categories are not good. It is recommended that advanced educators and researchers train students to solve mathematical problems, especially the stages developed by Polya. This ability is the second intelligence in mathematics after students have the first intelligence to understand mathematical concepts.