Numerical Input & Formula Input Problems

Numerical input questions expect learners to input a number or equation in response to the question. They are similar to text entry fields in that the response has to match the input, but the way the response is evaluated and the rules that apply to the response typically differ enough that a separate question type is required to avoid bloating problems with irrelevant settings like case sensitivity.

Common settings for numerical input problems include:

• Response types - what the problem is actually expecting, such as an equation or an integer.

• Variable injection - Allows variables to be defined and used in questions to generate near-infinite variations of mathematical problems.

• Evaluation formulae - Allows the input to be checked against a formula or formulae. If the output matches the expected output, the question is marked as correct.

• Error margin/tolerance - Allows staff to define a margin of error, such as a few % or +- a decimal value to account for rounding differences.

In some LMSes, formula questions are separated from numerical input problems. This does not seem to be by design, but simply because numerical input problems were added to those platforms later, resulting in a new problem type being easier than extending existing problems.

Insertion of mathematical notation in these problems and their answer is typically done by using some form of common markup syntax, such as TeX or MathJax.