AN ANALYSIS OF MATHEMATICAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF THE STUDENTS AT GRADE VII OF A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Abstract

The study aims at (1) describing the mathematical communication at class VII junior highschool in solving problems of the system of equations and linear inequalities of one variable,(2) analyzing the factors that cause students to correct problems in system material and linearinequalities of one variable. The data were collected in the form of text, images and words.The study adopted the descriptive research design based on qualitative data collected fromthe participants who were selected using purposive sampling model. Subjects were selectedby selecting one student for each category with high, medium, and low ability, in total threeparticipants. On the subject of high ability, in order to determine the participants, the criteriawere writing texts well, drawing well and the level of reflecting good mathematics as well.Medium ability subjects were supposed to meet the criteria in the aspects of writing well,although still relatively low. Low ability subjects on the criteria of aspects of writing andexpressing mathematics, classified at a very low level. The factors causing the students'mathematical communication abilities were found to be the use of vocabulary andmathematical language, the students’ learning style and the ability to express their ideas.