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[WWcvs] webwork2: Added helpFile for the syntax for entering answers -- including available functions
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From: Mike G. v. a. <we...@ma...> - 2009-10-29 01:58:54
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Log Message:
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Added helpFile for the syntax for entering answers -- including available functions
Added Files:
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webwork2/htdocs/helpFiles:
Syntax.html
Revision Data
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--- /dev/null
+++ htdocs/helpFiles/Syntax.html
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+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
+ "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
+<html>
+<head>
+ <title>Syntax for entering answers to WeBWorK</title>
+ <meta name="generator" content="BBEdit 8.7">
+</head>
+<body>
+<h1 id="firstHeading">Syntax for entering answers to WeBWorK</h1>
+
+
+<h4> <span class="mw-headline">Mathematical Symbols Available In WeBWorK</span></h4>
+<ul><li> + Addition
+</li><li> - Subtraction
+</li><li> * Multiplication can also be indicated by a space or juxtaposition, e.g. 2x, 2 x or 2*x, also 2(3+4).
+</li><li> / Division
+</li><li> ^ or ** You can use either ^ or ** for exponentiation, e.g. 3^2 or 3**2
+</li><li> Parentheses: () - You can also use square brackets, [ ], and braces, { }, for grouping, e.g. [1+2]/[3(4+5)]
+</li></ul>
+<a name="Syntax_for_entering_expressions"></a><h4> <span class="mw-headline">Syntax for entering expressions</span></h4>
+<ul><li> Be careful entering expressions just as you would be careful entering expressions in a calculator.
+</li><li> <b>Use the "Preview Button" to see exactly how your entry
+looks. E.g. to tell the difference between 1+2/3*4 and [1+2]/[3*4]
+click the "Preview Button".</b>
+</li><li> Sometimes using the * symbol to indicate mutiplication makes
+things easier to read. For example (1+2)*(3+4) and (1+2)(3+4) are both
+valid. So are 3*4 and 3 4 (3 space 4, not 34) but using a * makes
+things clearer.
+</li><li> Use ('s and )'s to make your meaning clear. You can also use ['s and ]'s and {'s and }'s.
+</li><li> Don't enter 2/4+5 (which is 5.5) when you really want 2/(4+5) (which is 2/9).
+</li><li> Don't enter 2/3*4 (which is 8/3) when you really want 2/(3*4) (which is 2/12).
+</li><li> Entering big quotients with square brackets, e.g. [1+2+3+4]/[5+6+7+8], is a good practice.
+</li><li> Be careful when entering functions. It's always good practice
+to use parentheses when entering functions. Write sin(t) instead of
+sint or sin t even though WeBWorK is smart enough to <b>usually</b> accept sin t or even sint. For example, sin 2t is interpreted as sin(2)t, i.e. (sin(2))*t so be careful.
+</li><li> You can enter sin^2(t) as a short cut although mathematically
+speaking sin^2(t) is shorthand for (sin(t))^2(the square of sin of t).
+(You can enter it as sin(t)^2 or even sint^2, but don't try such things
+unless you <b>really</b> understand the precedence of operations. The
+"sin" operation has highest precedence, so it is performed first, using
+the next token (i.e. t) as an argument. Then the result is squared.)
+You can always use the Preview button to see a typeset version of what
+you entered and check whether what you wrote was what you
+meant. :-)
+</li><li> For example 2+3sin^2(4x) will work and is equivalent to
+2+3(sin(4x))^2 or 2+3sin(4x)^2. Why does the last expression work?
+Because things in parentheses are always done first [ i.e. (4x)], next
+all functions, such as sin, are evaluated [giving sin(4x)], next all
+exponents are taken [giving sin(4x)^2], next all multiplications and
+divisions are performed in order from left to right [giving
+3sin(4x)^2], and finally all additions and subtractions are performed
+[giving 2+3sin(4x)^2].
+</li><li> Is -5^2 positive or negative? It's negative. This is because
+the square operation is done before the negative sign is applied. Use
+(-5)^2 if you want to square negative 5.
+</li><li> When in doubt use parentheses!!! :-)
+</li><li> The complete rules for the precedence of operations, in addition to the above, are
+<ul><li> Multiplications and divisions are performed left to right: 2/3*4 = (2/3)*4 = 8/3.
+</li><li> Additions and subtractions are performed left to right: 1-2+3 = (1-2)+3 = 2.
+</li><li> Exponents are taken right to left: 2^3^4 = 2^(3^4) = 2^81 = a big number.
+</li></ul>
+</li><li> <b>Use the "Preview Button" to see exactly how your entry
+looks. E.g. to tell the difference between 1+2/3*4 and [1+2]/[3*4]
+click the "Preview Button".</b>
+</li></ul>
+<a name="Mathematical_Constants_Available_In_WeBWorK"></a><h4> <span class="mw-headline">Mathematical Constants Available In WeBWorK</span></h4>
+<ul><li> pi This gives 3.14159265358979, e.g. cos(pi) is -1
+</li><li> e This gives 2.71828182845905, e.g. ln(e*2) is 1 + ln(2)
+</li></ul>
+<a name="Scientific_Notation_Available_In_WeBWorK"></a><h4> <span class="mw-headline">Scientific Notation Available In WeBWorK</span></h4>
+<ul><li> 2.1E2 is the same as 210
+</li><li> 2.1E-2 is the same as .021
+</li></ul>
+<a name="Mathematical_Functions_Available_In_WeBWorK"></a><h4> <span class="mw-headline">Mathematical Functions Available In WeBWorK</span></h4>
+<p>Note that sometimes one or more of these functions is disabled for a WeBWorK problem because the
+instructor wants you to calculate the answer by some means other than just using the function.
+</p>
+<ul><li> abs( ) The absolute value
+</li><li> cos( ) Note: cos( ) uses radian measure
+</li><li> sin( ) Note: sin( ) uses radian measure
+</li><li> tan( ) Note: tan( ) uses radian measure
+</li><li> sec( ) Note: sec( ) uses radian measure
+</li><li> cot( ) Note: cot( ) uses radian measure
+</li><li> csc( ) Note: csc( ) uses radian measure
+</li><li> exp( ) The same function as e^x
+</li><li> log( ) This is usually the natural log but your professor may have redined this as log to the base 10
+</li><li> ln( ) The natural log
+</li><li> logten( ) The log to the base 10
+</li><li> arcsin( )
+</li><li> asin( ) or sin^-1() Another name for arcsin
+</li><li> arccos( )
+</li><li> acos( ) or cos^-1() Another name for arccos
+</li><li> arctan( )
+</li><li> atan( ) or tan^-1() Another name for arctan
+</li><li> arccot( )
+</li><li> acot( ) or cot^-1() Another name for arccot
+</li><li> arcsec( )
+</li><li> asec( ) or sec^-1() Another name for arcsec
+</li><li> arccsc( )
+</li><li> acsc( ) or csc^-1() Another name for arccsc
+</li><li> sinh( )
+</li><li> cosh( )
+</li><li> tanh( )
+</li><li> sech( )
+</li><li> csch( )
+</li><li> coth( )
+</li><li> arcsinh( )
+</li><li> asinh( ) or sinh^-1() Another name for arcsinh
+</li><li> arccosh( )
+</li><li> acosh( ) or cosh^-1()Another name for arccosh
+</li><li> arctanh( )
+</li><li> atanh( ) or tanh^-1()Another name for arctanh
+</li><li> arcsech( )
+</li><li> asech( ) or sech^-1()Another name for arcsech
+</li><li> arccsch( )
+</li><li> acsch( ) or csch^-1() Another name for arccsch
+</li><li> arccoth( )
+</li><li> acoth( ) or coth^-1() Another name for arccoth
+</li><li> sqrt( )
+</li><li> n! (n factorial -- defined for <span class="typeset"><nobr><span class="scale"><span style="position: relative;"><span style="position: absolute; top: -0.131em; left: 0em;"><span class="cmmi10">n</span><span style="position: relative; margin-left: 0.277em;"><span class="cmsy10">Ã</span></span><span style="position: relative; margin-left: 0.277em;"><span class="cmr10">0</span></span> </span><span class="blank" style="width: 2.429em; height: 0.722em; vertical-align: 0.722em;"></span></span><span class="blank" style="height: 0.93em; vertical-align: 0.744em;"></span></span></nobr></span>
+</li><li> These functions may not always be available for every problem.
+<ul><li> sgn( ) The sign function, either -1, 0, or 1
+</li><li> step( ) The step function (0 if <span class="typeset"><nobr><span class="scale"><span style="position: relative;"><span style="position: absolute; top: -0.131em; left: 0em;"><span class="cmmi10">x</span><span style="position: relative; margin-left: 0.277em;"><span class="cmmi10"><</span></span><span style="position: relative; margin-left: 0.277em;"><span class="cmr10">0</span></span> </span><span class="blank" style="width: 2.429em; height: 0.722em; vertical-align: 0.722em;"></span></span><span class="blank" style="height: 0.833em; vertical-align: 0.744em;"></span></span></nobr></span>, 1 if <span class="typeset"><nobr><span class="scale"><span style="position: relative;"><span style="position: absolute; top: -0.131em; left: 0em;"><span class="cmmi10">x</span><span style="position: relative; margin-left: 0.277em;"><span class="cmsy10">Ã</span></span><span style="position: relative; margin-left: 0.277em;"><span class="cmr10">0</span></span> </span><span class="blank" style="width: 2.429em; height: 0.722em; vertical-align: 0.722em;"></span></span><span class="blank" style="height: 0.93em; vertical-align: 0.744em;"></span></span></nobr></span>)
+</li><li> fact(n) The factorial function n! (defined only for nonnegative integers)
+</li><li> P(n,k) = n*(n-1)*(n-2)...(n-k+1) the number of ordered sequences of k elements chosen from n elements
+</li><li> C(n,k) = "n choose k" the number of unordered sequences of k elements chosen from n elements
+</li></ul>
+</li></ul>
+
+For more information:
+
+<a href="http://webwork.maa.org/wiki/Available_Functions">http://webwork.maa.org/wiki/Available_Functions</a>
+
+
+</body>
+</html>
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