Author a mathematical formula question

Mathematical formula questions allow instructors to compare a student response (generally a mathematical expression) to a specified answer and (in most cases) accept response equivalence.

There are ten sub-types of mathematical formula questions that accept specific types of responses.

To author a mathematical formula question

To author a mathematical formula question from the Question Editor:

  1. Enter a question statement in the Question Text pane of the Question Editor.

  2. Click Möbius component to select the type of student response for this part of the question.

  3. Click Mathematical Formula from the list of student response components.

  4. Assign a weight to the response. The default weighting is 1.

  5. Select the sub-type of mathematical formula question that you want to author from the Sub-type drop-down list.

  6. Define the correct answer using symbolic math in the Answer field.

  7. Click Insert to add this student response component to the question.

  8. The component is inserted into your question.

  9. Click Preview to trial your new question to ensure that it behaves as expected.

  10. Click Save to save your new question. Your new question is now stored in the Questions pane of the Content Repository.

Grading details for mathematical formula questions

Student responses are compared to the defined correct answer and must contain a mathematical expression including numbers or mathematical formulas.

In general, the ten mathematical formula question sub-types accept equivalent responses.

Here are some special notes for equivalent responses and specific sub-types:

  • The formula without logs and trig sub-type won't accept logarithmic and trigonometric functions as equivalent responses.

  • The formula with physical units sub-type will accept unit equivalents as long as the units are recognized by Möbius.

  • The formula that matches responses to within +C sub-type accepts two answers as equivalent if they differ by a constant number.

  • The formula without simplification sub-type will only accept unsimplified responses as equivalent responses.

  • The equation sub-type will accept any equation that's algebraically equivalent to the correct answer.

  • The chemical formula sub-type doesn't accept equivalent responses and requires the student response to be an exact match to the defined correct answer.