FactoringAndExpanding
Factoring and Expanding in Student Answers
This is the PG code to check answers that require students to factor or expand a polynomial expression.
- Example 1: (Recommended) Using the LimitedPowers context for factoring and the LimitedPolynomial context for expanding.
- Example 2: Using adaptive parameters and a MultiAnswer for factoring and the LimitedPolynomial context for expanding.
Example 1: (Recommended) Using the LimitedPowers context for factoring and the LimitedPolynomial context for expanding.
PG problem file | Explanation |
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DOCUMENT(); loadMacros( "PGstandard.pl", "MathObjects.pl", "contextLimitedPolynomial.pl", "contextLimitedPowers.pl", ); TEXT(beginproblem()); |
Initialization: We need all of these macros. |
Context("LimitedPolynomial-Strict"); # # vertex form of quadratic # $n = list_random(4,6); $a = random(2,4,1); $b = ($a+$n); $h = $n/2; $k = $h**2+$a*$b; $vertexform = Compute("(x-$h)^2-$k"); # # standard form of quadratic # $p[0] = $h**2 - $k; $p[1] = 2*$h; $standardform = Compute("x^2 - $p[1] x + $p[0]"); # # factored form of quadratic # Context("Numeric"); LimitedPowers::OnlyIntegers( minPower => 0, maxPower => 1, message => "either 0 or 1", ); $factoredform = Compute("(x+$a)(x-$b)"); |
Setup:
To construct this quadratic, we choose a nice factored form |
Context()->texStrings; BEGIN_TEXT The quadratic expression \( $vertexform \) is written in vertex form. $BR $BR (a) Write the expression in standard form \( ax^2 + bx + c \). $BR \{ ans_rule(30) \} $BR $BR (a) Write the expression in factored form \( k(ax+b)(cx+d) \). $BR \{ ans_rule(30)\} END_TEXT Context()->normalStrings; |
Main Text: Everything here is as usual. |
$showPartialCorrectAnswers = 1; ANS( $standardform->cmp() ); ANS( $factoredform->cmp() ); ENDDOCUMENT(); |
Answer Evaluation: Everything is as expected. |
Example 2: Using adaptive parameters and a MultiAnswer for factoring and the LimitedPolynomial context for expanding.
PG problem file | Explanation |
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DOCUMENT(); loadMacros( "PGstandard.pl", "MathObjects.pl", "parserMultiAnswer.pl", ); TEXT(beginproblem()); |
Initialization:
We need to include the |
Context("Numeric"); $fac1 = Compute("(2 x + 3)"); $fac2 = Compute("(8 x + 12)"); $multians = MultiAnswer($fac1,$fac2)->with( singleResult => 0, allowBlankAnswers => 0, # singleResult => 1, # separator => " * ", # tex_separator => " \cdot ", checker => sub { my $correct = shift; my $student = shift; my $ansHash = shift; my ($F,$G) = @{$correct}; my ($f,$g) = @{$student}; $ansHash->setMessage(1,"Neither factor can be constant") unless $f->isFormula; $ansHash->setMessage(2,"Neither factor can be constant") unless $g->isFormula; # use an adaptive parameter 'a' my $context = Context()->copy; $context->flags->set(no_parameters=>0); $context->variables->add('a'=>'Parameter'); my $a = Formula($context,'a'); $f = Formula($context,$f); $g = Formula($context,$g); $F = Formula($context,$F); $G = Formula($context,$G); if ( (($a*$F == $f) && ($F*$G == $f*$g)) || (($a*$G == $f) && ($F*$G == $f*$g)) ) { return [1,1]; } elsif (($a*$F == $f) || ($a*$G == $f)) { return [1,0]; } elsif (($a*$F == $g) || ($a*$G == $g)) { return [0,1]; } else { return [0,0]; } } ); |
Setup:
This is a standard factoring problem for a non-monic polynomial (where the leading coefficient is not 1 or -1). Since it is possible to factor
The For more details on adaptive parameters and MultiAnswer, please see AdaptiveParameters and MultiAnswerProblems. |
Context()->texStrings; BEGIN_TEXT Factor the following expression. $BR $BR \( 16 t^2 + 48 t + 36 = \big( \) \{$multians->ans_rule(10)\} \( \big) \big( \) \{$multians->ans_rule(10)\} \( \big) \) END_TEXT Context()->normalStrings; |
Main Text:
Each answer blank must be a method of the |
$showPartialCorrectAnswers = 1; install_problem_grader(~~&std_problem_grader); ANS( $multians->cmp() ); ENDDOCUMENT(); |
Answer Evaluation:
Everything is as expected. We give students feedback on whether their answers are correct by using |
- POD documentation: parserMultiAnswer.pl.html
- PG macro: parserMultiAnswer.pl