Students’ difficulties in solving mathematical creative thinking problems on derivative application

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the difficulties experienced by students in solving mathematical creative thinking problems. Twenty six students at the eleventh grade of Mathematics and Natural Sciences program in a senior high school in Tasikmalaya were involved as research subjects. The research method used in this study was descriptive qualitative in order to describe the difficulties experienced by students in solving creative thinking problems on the topic of derivative application. Problems that are designed refer to mathematical creative thinking indicators including fluency, flexibility, elaboration and originality. The results of the study concluded as follows (1) on the fluency indicator, the majority of students had smoothly applied the concept of function derivatives so that no difficulties were identified, (2) on the flexibility indicator, students difficulties applying other concepts as a different way, (3) on the elaboration indicator, students difficulties in constructing the formulas used and (4) on the originality indicator, students difficulties in representing the shape of images into mathematical equations.