Improving Students' Problem Solving Ability and Mathematical Communication through the Application of Problem Based Learning

The purpose of this study was to determine the improvement of students' mathematical problem solving and communication skills using problem-based learning better than ordinary learning; to determine the interaction between learning and early mathematical abilities to increase students' mathematical problem solving and communication skills; to find out how the process of answers made by students in solving problems in problem-based learning and ordinary learning. This type of research is quasi-experimental. The population in this study were all grade VII students of SMP Lhokseumawe who were accredited and the samples were randomly selected, namely: SMPN 10 consisted of class VII-4 (experimental class) and class VII-2 (control class), SMPN 11 Lhokseumawe consisted of class VII- 3 (experimental class) and class VII-1 (control class). Data analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA. The results of this study indicate that there is an increase in the problem-solving ability and mathematical communication of students using problem-based learning better than students who receive regular learning; there is no interaction between learning and the level of students 'ability to increase students' problem-solving abilities and mathematical communication; the process of solving the problem of students' answers to learning using problem-based learning is better than ordinary learning.