Analysis of Student’s Understanding of Exponential Concept: A Perspective of Pirie-Kieren Theory

Abstract

Solving mathematical problem is frequently used by employing exponential concept, such as logarithm. The aim of the research is to analyze students’ understanding of exponential concept based on Pirie-Kieren theory. The participant of the research is one female student and one male student at the 11th grade. The data collection was conducted by giving two tasks and interviewing with semi-structure interview. The result showed that both students can solve the first task systematically with different process. The processes are correct although the last expression is not simple. For primitive understanding level, they had exponential basic knowledge. They could explain exponential definition by their own statements. At image making and image having level, they had different ideas to solve problem and they were able to deliver their solutions. At property noticing level, they had competences to identify and differentiate the exponential properties for multiplication and division. At formalizing level, they are able to express these properties to mathematics symbol. However they had no algebraic ability for proving exponential properties. At the second task, they couldn’t reach observing level. They answered the problem incorrectly. Therefore, it can be concluded that the female student and male student’s understanding have already reached formalizing level in the exponential concept.