AlgebraicFractions

Algebraic Fractions in Student Answers

This code shows how to format questions in which the answer is an algebraic fraction that has separate answer blanks for the numerator and denominator that are stacked on top of each other like a fraction. Stacking the answer blanks is nice formatting that simplifies how to ask students for the parts of a fraction separately. In addition, having two separate answer blanks is useful for requiring students to simplify their answer as much as possible.

Problem Techniques Index

PG problem file	Explanation
DOCUMENT(); loadMacros( "PGstandard.pl", "PGunion.pl", "MathObjects.pl", "PGcourse.pl", ); TEXT(beginproblem());	Initialization: We include the macros file PGunion.pl to be able to display the answer boxes on top of each other (as a fraction).
Context("Numeric"); $frac = "\frac{d}{dx} \left( \frac{-(x^2+4)}{(x^2-4)^2} \right)"; $num = Formula("2 * x * (x**2 + 12)")->reduce; $den = Formula("(x**2 - 4)**3")->reduce; # # Display the fraction and answer blanks nicely # if ($displayMode eq 'TeX') { $displayfrac = "\[ $frac = ".ans_rule(10).ans_rule(10)." \]"; } else { $displayfrac = ColumnTable( "\( \displaystyle $frac = \)", ans_rule(20).$BR.$HR.ans_rule(20), indent => 0, separation => 10, valign => "MIDDLE" ); }	Setup: We define a string $frac that will be displayed in TeX mode. We define MathObjects formulas $num and $den that are the correct numerator and denominator for the answer. We define a mode-dependent string $displayfrac that will be the nicely formatted fraction and answer blanks. To display the fraction nicely in TeX mode, we use displaystyle math \[ ... \] and append two concatenated answer blanks to the string $frac. In other modes (such as html), we use a ColumnTable from PGunion.pl macros to display the answer blanks as a fraction. For fractions over fractions, to keep the font size large use the LaTeX commands \( \displaystyle\frac{ \displaystyle\frac{a}{b} }{ \displaystyle\frac{c}{d} } \)
Context()->texStrings; BEGIN_TEXT Calculate the indicated derivative. Simplify your answer as much as possible. $BR $BR $BCENTER $displayfrac $ECENTER END_TEXT Context()->normalStrings;	Main Text: Everything is as usual. Insert the fraction and answer blanks using $displayfrac.
$showPartialCorrectAnswers = 1; install_problem_grader(~~&std_problem_grader); ANS($num->cmp); ANS($den->cmp); ENDDOCUMENT();	Answer Evaluation: If you want to give students feedback on whether their numerator and denominator are correct, set $showPartialCorrectAnswers = 1;, otherwise set it to 0 to withhold feedback. If you want to withhold credit until both answer blanks are correct, use the standard problem grader, otherwise omit it to use the default (average problem grader).

Problem Techniques Index