Mathematical equation question

Create a mathematical equation question

To create a mathematical equation question, follow the steps below. 

1. Navigate to your question bank or your course assignment. 
2. Click on New exercise, fill in a name and click Create.
3. Click + New question and select Mathematical equation.
4. Formulate the question in the 'Question*' field.
5. Fill in the number of points the question is worth.
6. Optionally, add a model answer. 
7. Select the scoring method:
   • Automatic: Grade equations automatically.
   • Criteria: Grade by selecting each applicable criterion.
   • Rubric: Grade by selecting on criterion per set.
   • Slider: Grade by manually entering a score.
8. If the selected scoring method is 'Automatic', first save the question before following the next steps:
   1. Click the edit-icon to enter the equation. 
   2. Click the dropdown menu Equation operation* and select the operation. Examples of each operation are shown below.
   3. Optionally, fill in a variable.
   4. Click Calculate to check if the correct equation has been inserted. The solution which is expected from the participants will appear. If this is not the answer you would have expected, an incorrect equation has been entered in the previous step.
9. If the selected scoring method is 'Criteria' or 'Rubric', add the Evaluation criteria. This option is not relevant for the scoring method 'Slider'. Click on Add criteria to add a criterion. Optionally, click Add group, to add a group. More information can be found here.
10. Optionally, add learning objectives in the 'Objectives' field.
11. Click Create.

This operation can be used to solve an equation for a specific variable. In the example below, the participant needs to solve the equation \(3+3x = 9\). In this case, the correct answer is \(2\), as:

• \(3+3x = 9\)
• \(3x = 6\)
• \(x = 2\)

As the equation is solved for \(x\), this is inserted in the 'Variable' field.

This operation can be used to  simplify equations to their smallest shape. In the example below, the participant needs to simplify the equation \(2^3\). In this case, the answer is \(8\).

This operation can be used for equations that contain brackets. The result will be an equation without brackets. For example, the participant needs to solve the equation \(10(10-1)\). The solution is \(90\), as:

• \(10(10-1)\)
• \(10(9)\)
• \(90\)

This operation is the opposite of expanding. The given equation will be written as an equation without brackets. In the example below, the participants need to factor \(2y+6\). The correct answer, in this case, is \(2(y+3)\).

This operation is used to calculate the derivative of a certain function f with respect to a variable x. The derivative of a function y = f(x) of a variable x is a measure of the rate at which the value y of the function changes with respect to the change of the variable x. In the example, the participant calculates the derivative of \(3x^5\). The correct answer is \(15x^4\).

This operation is used to calculate the integral of a certain function f with respect to a variable x on an interval [a,b]. In the example below, the participants need to solve \(\int 2xdx\). The correct answer is \(x^2\).

This operation is used to calculate the limit L of a certain function f of x as x approaches c. In the example below, the participants calculate the following: \(\lim {x \to 2} x^2\). The answer is 2, as:

• \(\lim {x \to 2} x^2\)
• If \(x=2\), \(x^2 = 2^2\)
• \(2^2 = 4\)

In this example the limit of function \(x^2\) is 4 when x approaches c, which in this case is 2. 

With this operation, participants calculate the sum of a sequence of any kind of number. In the example below, the participant needs to solve \(\sum_{k=1}^{3} k^2\). The correct answer is \(14\), as \(1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 = 1+4+9 = 14\).

To add a grading scheme to a mathematical equation question, follow the steps below.

1. Click Grading scheme tab at the top of the assignment or question bank exercise.
2. Go to the question for which you want to set the grading scheme.
3. Click the more_horiz-icon and click Edit. 
4. Fill in or adjust the number of points the question is worth.
5. Optionally, add or adjust a model answer. 
6. Select or adjust the scoring method:
   • Automatic: Grade equations automatically.
   • Criteria: Grade by selecting each applicable criterion.
   • Rubric: Grade by selecting on criterion per set.
   • Slider: Grade by manually entering a score.
7. If the selected scoring method is 'Automatic', first save the question before following the next steps::
   1. Click the edit-icon to enter the equation. 
   2. Click the dropdown menu Equation operation* and select the operation. Examples of each operation are shown below.
   3. Optionally, fill in a variable.
   4. Click Calculate to check if the correct equation has been inserted. The solution which is expected from the participants will appear. If this is not the answer you would have expected, an incorrect equation has been entered in the previous step.
8. If the selected scoring method is 'Criteria' or 'Rubric', add the Evaluation criteria. This option is not relevant for the scoring method 'Slider'. Click on Add criteria to add a criterion. Optionally, click Add group, to add a group. More information can be found here.
9. Optionally, add or adjust learning objectives in the 'Objectives' field.
10. Click Update.

For additional options, click the settings-icon. You will see the following:

• Bonus
  This marks the question as a bonus question, which means that its points are not included in the maximum amount of points achievable for that assignment. If a student answers the question incorrectly, this will not be detracted from the number of points and the mark. However, when awarding points, it is possible to achieve more points that the maximum points achievable for the assignment.
   
• Partial scoring
  Participants will receive points when their answer is partly correct. For example, if the total number of points they can receive for a question is 2 and their answer is 50% correct, they will still receive 1 point. Without this option, they can only receive 0 or the maximum number of points.
   
• Limit minimum to zero points (Only available if the scoring method 'Automatic' is chosen)
  With this option enabled, it’s not possible to go below zero points when selecting the different criteria. It is still possible to manually adjust the number of points to go below zero with the adjustment option during reviewing.
   
• Limit maximum to total points (Only available if the scoring method 'Automatic' is chosen)
  In the grading settings it’s possible to set the maximum amount of points achievable with the question, separate from the points per criteria When this number deviates from the maximum amount achievable by adding up the criteria points, this option will cap the maximum amount of points to this manually set number.

When the option ‘Feedback’ is enabled in the ‘Accessibility’ settings of your assignment, Ans will give hints when a student is solving equations or other mathematical questions. An example of how this will look for the student:

When hints are not desired, you need to disable ‘Feedback’ in the assignment settings.