Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Banyak siswa mengalami kesulitan dalam menyelesaikan soal aljabar karena konsepnya yang abstrak dan kurangnya strategi penyelesaian yang efektif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kemampuan siswa dalam menyelesaikan soal aljabar di SMP Negeri 8 Kota Banda Aceh menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif. Subjek penelitian terdiri dari 31 siswa kelas VIII-3 yang dipilih melalui purposive sampling. Instrumen penelitian meliputi tes esai lima soal dan wawancara untuk mendalami pemahaman siswa terhadap konsep aljabar. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui tes dan wawancara sedangkan teknik analisis data menggunakan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan berdasarkan pola kesalahan serta strategi penyelesaian soal siswa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 58% siswa berada dalam kategori sangat baik, 10% baik, dan 32% kurang. Kesulitan utama meliputi pemahaman variabel, penyederhanaan bentuk aljabar, serta operasi pembagian. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa penerapan langkah-langkah Polya dapat meningkatkan pemahaman siswa dalam menyelesaikan soal aljabar. Untuk meningkatkan kemampuan siswa, disarankan penggunaan pembelajaran interaktif, penekanan pada pemeriksaan jawaban, serta latihan soal variatif dan berbasis konteks untuk memperdalam pemahaman aljabar.
Kata Kunci: Kemampuan Menyelesaikan Soal, Aljabar, dan Matematika.

Many students experience difficulties in solving algebra problems due to the abstract concept and the lack of effective problem-solving strategies. This study aims to analyze students' ability to solve algebra problems at SMP Negeri 8 Banda Aceh City using a descriptive qualitative approach. The subjects of the study consisted of 31 students of grades VIII-3 selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments included a five-question essay test and interviews to deepen students' understanding of algebraic concepts. Data collection techniques were carried out through tests and interviews, while data analysis techniques used data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions based on error patterns and students' problem-solving strategies. The results showed that 58% of students were in the very good category, 10% were in the good category, and 32% were in the poor category. The main difficulties included understanding variables, simplifying algebraic forms, and division operations. These findings indicate that the application of Polya's steps can improve students' understanding in solving algebra problems. To improve students' abilities, it is recommended to use interactive learning, emphasize answer checking, and provide varied and context-based practice questions to deepen algebraic understanding. Keywords: Problem Solving Skills, Algebra, and Mathematics.