Identification of the Difficulties of Middle School Students in Understanding the Mixed Operations of Integer

Abstract

The difference between the students’ conceptions and the conceptual substance has led to a misconception regarding the mixed arithmetic operation on integers. This study aims to describe students’ understanding and to identify learning difficulties related to the mixed operation of integers. This study was a qualitative study with a case study design. The subjects of the study were the students of grade VII of a junior high school in Bandung. The data collection was done through tests, interviews, and curriculum documents. Data analysis is descriptive in general by reposing data, presenting data, and drawing conclusions. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that students have difficulties in understanding the concept of integers and their operation, especially those related to the mixed operations of integers. Based on the data analysis, it can be shown that some students recognize numbers only as a formal symbol in mathematics. Numbers for them are something abstract so they have difficulty when they present these numbers in concrete. Another result is students have difficulty in using mixed operations of integers. Keywords: difficulties of middle school students, mixed operations of integer, understanding