An Identification of Problem Solving Ability as a Component of Mathematical Literacy

Abstract

Mathematical literacy is an ability that is expected to be obtained by students in learning mathematics. One of the components of mathematical literacy is problem solving ability which should be supported by an ability of logical reasoning and mathematical communication. Its is essential to identify the problem solving ability as the basis of understanding one of the components of learners’mathematical literacy. The identification is done by considering learners’ basic ability that has been achieved in the previous stage of the learning process. The result of the identification can be utilized to improve students’ basic mathematic ability. In this descriptive qualitative study, nine students were involved as the research subject. They were divided into three groups that represented different mathematic abilities: high, moderate, and low. Test and interview were employed to collect the data. The data were analyzed through triangulation process based on the indicators that were determined. The result of the study shows that the students with high mathematic ability were able to utilize the problem solving components including: (1) understand the problem, (2) make a plan, (3) carry out the plan, and (4) look back at the completed solution. In the opposite, students with moderate and low abilities could not meet the problem solving components optimally due to their insufficients mathematic ability in the previous educational level.