Junior high school students’ mathematical creative thinking ability based on gender differences in plane and solid geometry subjects

Abstract Mathematical creative thinking is the ability of students to find solving ways that are unusual, unique, and have never been found by others. The development of the concept of mathematical creative thinking can make students despair and give up, so that another ability is needed so that they are able to survive and turn their difficulties to be opportunities for themselves to advance. This study aims to determine the mathematical creative thinking ability of class VIII junior high school students in one of the junior high schools in Bandung Barat on the subject to construct plane and solid geometry based on gender differences. The samples are 4 students consisting of two men and two women. Besides that, the discussion of mathematical creative thinking skills for junior high school students is viewed from gender differences, between male and female students in terms of their creative thinking abilities. The instrument of this research is a test of the ability to think creatively and interview. This study is a descriptive qualitative research that aims to describe the ability of creative thinking mathematically in solving problems of plane and solid geometry. The results show that the ability difference between male and female students is that the female students have much better mathematical creative thinking. In addition to gender factors, other factors can also influence the achievement of creative thinking skills; namely, students and teachers’ readiness to learn, students’ basic abilities and knowledge of mathematical concepts. Male students are more detailed in explaining the shape of each space given to the problem.