Specialized parsers

Using advanced methods one can modify the behavior of MathObjects and the way they interpret student answers by modifying the parser itself. By convention files that modify the parser are named starting with "parser" -- e.g. parserYourModsHere.pl.

Examples of modifications are give below. A description of advanced techniques for modifying the parser are at ModifyingParser (Advanced).

An other advanced method for customizing MathObjects is to modify the context in which the appear. See SpecializedContexts

Specialized Parser Macro files

Here is a partial list of the parser modifying files. Check the POD documentation for more examples. Use loadMacros("parserAssignment.pl"); to make the parser modifications available for a WeBWorK question.

• parserAssignment.pl
  • checks answers of the form [math]y=3x+5[/math] with the LHS of the equation required.
  • follow the link above to see the additional statements that must be inserted in the question to use this file.
• parserAutoStrings.pl
  • parserAutoStrings.pl - Force String() to accept any string as a potential answer.

  AutoStrings()
    -- all strings are accepted
  DefineStrings("string1", "string2")
  DefineStrings(qw(string1 string2)) 
    -- is a quick way to define "legitimate" strings.

• parserCustomization.pl
  • Placeholder for site/course-local customization file.
• parserDifferenceQuotient.pl
  • An answer checker for difference quotients.
• parserFormulaUpToConstant.pl
  • implements formulas ``plus a constant.
  • Students must include the ``+C as part of their answers
• parserFormulaWithUnits.pl
  • Implements a formula with units.
  • For example:

     FormulaWithUnits("3x+1 ft")->cmp
     FormulaWithUnits($a*$x+1,"ft")->cmp

• parserFunction.pl
  • An easy way of adding new functions to the current context.
  • parserFunction("f(x)" => "sqrt(x+1)-2");
• parserImplicitEquation.pl
  • An answer checker for implicit equations.

   Context("ImplicitEquation");
   $f = ImplicitEquation("x^2 = cos(y)");
   $f = ImplicitEquation("x^2 - 2y^2 = 5",limits=>[[-3,3],[-2,2]]);
   $f = ImplicitEquation("x=1/y",tolerance=>.0001);

• parserImplicitPlane.pl
  • Implement implicit planes.

   $P = ImplicitPlane(Point(1,0,2),Vector(-1,1,3)); #  -x+y+3z = 5
   $P = ImplicitPlane([1,0,2],[-1,1,3]);            #  -x+y+3z = 5
   $P = ImplicitPlane([1,0,2],4);                   #  x+2z = 4
   $P = ImplicitPlane("x+2y-z=5");

• parserMultiAnswer.pl
  • Tie several blanks to a single answer checker.
• parserNumberWithUnits.pl
  • Implements a number with units.

   ANS(NumberWithUnits("3 ft")->cmp);
   ANS(NumberWithUnits("$a*$b ft")->cmp);
   ANS(NumberWithUnits($a*$b,"ft")->cmp);

• parserParametricLine.pl
  • Implements Formulas that represent parametric lines.
• parserPopUp.pl
  • Pop-up menus compatible with Value objects.
• parserRadioButtons.pl
  • Radio buttons compatible with Value objects, specifically MultiAnswer objects.
• parserSolutionFor.pl
  • An answer checker that checks if a student's answer satisifies a (possibly non-linear) implicit equation.
• parserVectorUtils.pl
  • Utility macros that are useful in vector problems.