## WeBWorK Problems

### Error on a problem using the LimitedNumeric context

by Robin Cruz -
Number of replies: 1

A student got the following error on a problem we've used in 6 courses -- without anyone reporting an error in the past.  The seed used on the problem when the error occurs is 348.  I've included a copy of the problem template below.

--rac

---------------------------------------------Error message--------------------------------------

Can't use '*' in this context; see position 16 of formula at line 93 of [PG]/macros/Parser.pl Died within main::Formula called at line 93 of [PG]/macros/Parser.pl from within main::Compute called at line 60 of [TMPL]/tmpEdit/Problems/setAppliedMath_01_02_Polynomials/AppMath_01_Polynomials.pg.rcruz.tmp

### Error details

 

 Problem1 ERROR caught by Translator while processing problem file:tmpEdit/Problems/setAppliedMath_01_02_Polynomials/AppMath_01_Polynomials.pg.rcruz.tmp **************** Can't use '*' in this context; see position 16 of formula at line 93 of [PG]/macros/Parser.pl Died within main::Formula called at line 93 of [PG]/macros/Parser.pl from within main::Compute called at line 60 of [TMPL]/tmpEdit/Problems/setAppliedMath_01_02_Polynomials/AppMath_01_Polynomials.pg.rcruz.tmp 
---------------------------Problem Template------------------------------

loadMacros(  "PGstandard.pl",  "MathObjects.pl",  "contextLimitedNumeric.pl");

TEXT(&beginproblem);

#######################################  Setup

$p = non_zero_random(-12,12,1);do {$q = non_zero_random(-7,7,1);} while ($p==$q||$q==1||$q==-1);$r = random(4,9,1) + random(.1,.9,.1); #Make sure its not an integer   $a = random(4,6,1);$b = random(4,6,1);   ####################################### Main text   BEGIN_TEXTUse a calculator to approximate the following numbers:$PARa) $$r^a$$$BRANSWER: \{ans_rule(10)\}$PARb) $$\displaystyle \left( \frac{p}{q} \right)^b$$$BRANSWER: \{ans_rule(10)\}END_TEXT   ####################################### Answers   Context("LimitedNumeric");   $ans_a = Compute($r**$a);ANS($ans_a->cmp);   $ans_b = Compute(($p/$q)**$b);ANS($ans_b->cmp);

\$showPartialCorrectAnswers = 1;

######################################

ENDDOCUMENT(); # This should be the last executable line in the problem.