WeBWorK Problems

Strings and Formulas -- mixing contexts?

Strings and Formulas -- mixing contexts?

by D. Brian Walton -
Number of replies: 1
I am writing a problem relating to the First Derivative Test. The first answer is to be a list of numbers representing the critical points. The second answer is to be a list of "+" or "-" corresponding to the sign of the first derivative on intervals created by these critical points.

If I add "+" and "-" as strings to the context, the first answer breaks for negative numbers: "Operands of "*" can't be words"

If I do not add them as strings, the list checker complains that "+" or "-" are missing operands.

Ideas?

Thanks,
D. Brian Walton
James Madison University
In reply to D. Brian Walton

Re: Strings and Formulas -- mixing contexts?

by Davide Cervone -
You do this by using two contexts. Since a MathObject remembers what context it was in when it was created, you can have object that are in two separate contexts (for exactly this type of situation).

Here is an example of how to do it: 

   loadMacros("contextString.pl");

   Context("Numeric");

   $critpts = Compute("-2.7, 1.5, 3.53");

   Context("String")->strings->add("+"=>{}, "-"=>{}, "0"=>{});   # define the allowed strings
   Context()->operators->redefine(",", from=>"Numeric");          # allow lists

   $signs = Compute("+,-,+,-");

   BEGIN_TEXT
   The critical points are: \{ans_rule(20)\}$BR
   The signs of the intervals between them are \{ans_rule(20)\}
   END_TEXT

   ANS($critpts->cmp(showHints=>1, showLengthHints=>1));
   ANS($signs->cmp(ordered=>1, entry_type=>"a sign"));

Hope that does it.

Davide