Analysis of Junior High School Students Difficulty in Solving Linear Equation in Two Variables Word Problem

摘要

This qualitative research aims to describe the difficulties experienced by junior high school students and the causes of these difficulties in solving a linear equation in two variables word problem. Data collection is done through observation, tests, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis activities are carried out based on 1) data reduction, 2) data presentation, and 3) concluding. Based on the results of data analysis, the difficulties experienced by students are 1) difficulty in transforming the relevant information into variables x and y, 2) difficulty in identifying the appropriate mathematical material to solve the word problem, and 3) difficulty in formulating a linear equation in two variables requested in the word problem. Factors that cause these difficulties are the use of an incorrect strategy, poor reading comprehension skill; students do not fully understand the problem and the complexity of the relation between linguistic and numerical components in the word problem.