Students’ Mathematical Thinking Process Involving Equal Signs

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to know the process of students’ mathematical thinking in solving mathematics problems involving equal sign. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative using two stages such as testing and interviewing. This research was conducted at Sekolah Dasar Islam Surya Buana Malang and held at 5th grade involved 30 students, after having the test, will be continued the interview. The interviewed was conducting with two students who choosed based on the communication’s ability; so the students be able to explain the responding that has been given. Based on the result of this study most students understood that the equal sign as a symbol to obtain the results of a calculation. This result also shows that there are students who can understand equal sign as equality, however that understanding just limited to the equal sign with closed type, while in open type all students did not understand. It can be concluded that students more understand the equal sign as an operational symbol. This result is suggested to the teachers to introduce the meaning of equal sign to students especially relating to equality.