Kesulitan Mahasiswa Jurusan Pendidikan Matematika FMIPA Universitas Negeri Malang dalam Memahami Definisi

Abstract

The study was based on an assumption that the concept of function is a very important basic mathematics concept; weaknesses of students, teachers, and teacher candidates in understanding the concept of function; and the role of definition in the beginning stage of mathematics learning. The difficulties in understanding definition were evident by their difficulties in representing the definition using their own words or using language that are relevant to the learning materials, difficulties in identifying examples or non-examples of the concepts, the inability to identify and to relate parts of the explanation to the main idea in the definition; and the inability to compare the two "different definition" of a concept. The study indicated that the factors that cause them to have these difficullties are: insufficient understanding on its prerequisite concepts, insufficient understanding on mathematical terminologies, insufficient understanding on the relationships of definition stated in regular words and in logical notations, and inabilities to apply the rules in logic.