Exploring students' strategies in the problem-solving process on number pattern material.

Many researchers have researched the problem-solving process in learning mathematics. This study investigates students' strategies in solving mathematical problems related to number pattern material. Data were collected from the results of solving 2 number pattern problems given to 32 eighth-grade students in junior high school. Students selected to solve the problems given are students with high mathematical abilities based on the assessment of the mathematics teacher. The findings show four strategies they often apply during problem-solving: guess and test, make a list, look for a pattern, and draw a picture. The guess and test strategy are the most widely applied of the four strategies in solving number pattern problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]