The effects of theproblems context on 8th grade students abilities in problem solving steps problems mathematically

In this study, it is aimed to examine and identify understanding the problem and the role of the problem solving steps such as expressing the problem mathematically, solution of problem mathematically and correlation daily life on the condition that the context of the problem is selected from the 8th grade students? own lives. Studies were conducted with 30 students. At the first step of study, daily life problems which are appropriate for 8th grade students? levels are chosen and questioned from literature. At the second step of study, the contexts of the problems were changed in such a way that they were from their own environment and these new problems were questioned again after two or three months. The differences between the students? solutions at the first step and the students? solutions at the second step were investigated via semi-structured clinical interviews in the qualitative dimension of study. As quantitative data collection tools, it was utilized from the problems that are selected from literature and whose contexts are changed later. The main applications included the breaks took four or five months. As a result of the quantitative analysis, it was identified that the students displayed better performance at the step of understanding, expressing, solution an correlation these problems mathematically, when the contexts of the problems were selected from their own lives. On the other way, unless contexts of the problems are paid attention, the students? success at the step of understanding and expressing the problems mathematically was not enough. At the end of the qualitative analysis, it was seen that the familiarity of the problem context provided the students with understanding and solving the problems. At the end of the study, the suggestions are given to researchers by taking the consequence of this study into account. Key Words: Context of Problems, Context Familiarity, Daily Life Problems, Problem Solving