Using parserMultiAnswer.pl, I can set both format and tex_format strings to display the answers in the answer preview.
Is a similar thing possible with a MathObject? I can wrap the answer through a MultiAnswer grader with one item to get the result I want, but would prefer a way that didn't need to use MultiAnswer.
No, there are no options to control this directly, but you can use a post-filter for the answer checker to adjust the values that are displayed.
For example:
$a = Compute(12.34)->with(
correct_ans_latex_string => "\text{The number } 12.34", # The "Correct Answer" column
correct_ans => "The number 12.34", # The "Correct Answer" popup
);
TEXT($a->ans_rule(5));
ANS($a->cmp->withPostFilter(sub {
my $ans = shift;
if (!$ans->{error_message} && $ans->{preview_text_string}) {
$ans->{student_ans} = "The number $ans->{student_ans}"; # The "Entered" colomn
$ans->{preview_latex_string} = "\text{The number }$ans->{preview_latex_string}"; # The "Answer Preview" column
$ans->{preview_text_string} = "The number $ans->{preview_text_string}"; # "Answer Preview" Popup
}
return $ans;
}));
You can, of course, adjust the values to be whatever you want. The test for existence of error_message is so that if there is a syntax error, for example, you won't overwrite the syntax highlighting.