I would like to display MathObjects formulas with fractions expressed as rational numbers, but allowing the student to submit answers in either decimal or fraction form.
If I set the context using the reduceConstants setting:
Context()->flags->set(reduceConstants=>0);
then the formula appears with fractions not being reduced.
However, suppose that I wish to use the reduce method to simplify other aspects of the formula (such as change x^1 to x, or -(-x) to +x, etc.). This does not respect the reduceConstants setting and collapses the fraction back to a decimal approximation.
Is there a way to use the reduce method while retaining fractions?
Thanks,
- Brian
D. Brian Walton
James Madison University
Have you tried using the Fraction context? It is in the pg/macros/contextFraction.pl file.
loadMacro("contextFraction.pl");
Context("Fraction");
$F = Formula("(1/3)x^1-(-x)+0")->reduce;
yields $F equal to "(1/3)*x+x". I think that should do what you want.
Read the comments in the file for additional details.
Davide