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Bottom of page also explains how to enter expressions in calculators.
Bottom of page also explains how to enter expressions in calculators.
WHEN DOING AN ONLINE PROBLEM, ALWAYS READ DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY, ANSWER AS DIRECTED, AND PREVIEW YOUR ANSWER BEFORE SUBMITTING IT. Many students miss problems because they enter mixed numbers or decimals when directions state to write as reduced fractions. For instance, write 5/2 instead of 2.5. Also if you do not use the Math Quill for a fraction where the numerator or denominator is not simply a number (like 5) or a single variable (like x), you need to put parentheses around the numerator and denominator. For instance: (x+5)/(3m)
WHEN DOING AN ONLINE PROBLEM, ALWAYS READ DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY, ANSWER AS DIRECTED, AND PREVIEW YOUR ANSWER BEFORE SUBMITTING IT. Many students miss problems because they enter mixed numbers or decimals when directions state to write as reduced fractions. For instance, write 5/2 instead of 2.5. Also if you do not use the Math Quill for a fraction where the numerator or denominator is not simply a number (like 5) or a single variable (like x), you need to put parentheses around the numerator and denominator. For instance: (x+5)/(3m)
NOTE: Sometimes, math symbols show incorrectly or a graph doesn't show up at all when you are doing a problem. For instance, something like x-squared might look like x2 instead of showing the 2 as an exponent. If that ever happens, log out of MOM and then log in again. That usually works. Sometimes there are issues with graphs not showing up, especially in some of the Mac browsers. Also, check that your "accessibility" option didn't get messed up somehow. Log out and log in, making sure "Use defaults" is selected. If that doesn't work, try the "Use image-based display" option, which should work if the default doesn't.
NOTE: Sometimes, math symbols show incorrectly or a graph doesn't show up at all when you are doing a problem. For instance, something like x-squared might look like x2 instead of showing the 2 as an exponent. If that ever happens, log out of MOM and then log in again. That usually works. Sometimes there are issues with graphs not showing up, especially in some of the Mac browsers. Also, check that your "accessibility" option didn't get messed up somehow. Log out and log in, making sure "Use defaults" is selected. If that doesn't work, try the "Use image-based display" option, which should work if the default doesn't.
Scroll down for very short videos showing you exactly how to use the Math Quill.
At bottom is also a note about how to use a scientific calculator when entering more complicated expressions involving logarithms, etc. This is useful for Intermediate Algebra.
Read info at bottom of page if you have problems with graphs or expressions showing up correctly while doing an online problem.
Some students have problems getting credit due to the way they enter an answer in an online problem. This can happen for a variety of reasons. My Open Math can be picky (it's a program, not a real live teacher), so it often accepts answers in very specific formats, so you need to follow the directions. Understanding this and being mindful of what you can do to avoid having your answers marked wrong due to formatting or other issues (using parentheses as needed and using order of operations properly) will make your experience doing the online problem less frustrating.
In general, you get two attempts to get an online problem correct. If you do not get it correct, you can click on Try another similar question to get a new problem and try again to get it correct for credit. You can keep trying new problems until you get it right. The deadline for assessments is usually 11:59 pm PST. If you see a different time, either your computer is in another time zone or there is some other error. Log out and in again to see if the correct time of 11:59 pm appears. You may have to troubleshoot your computer to get the correct time.
In general, you get two attempts to get an online problem correct. If you do not get it correct, you can click on Try another similar question to get a new problem and try again to get it correct for credit. You can keep trying new problems until you get it right. The deadline for assessments is usually 11:59 pm PST. If you see a different time, either your computer is in another time zone or there is some other error. Log out and in again to see if the correct time of 11:59 pm appears. You may have to troubleshoot your computer to get the correct time.
Sometimes, answers student submit in MyOpenMath (MOM) are marked wrong for various reasons, even when the answer appears to be correct. Below are things you can do to avoid this problem.
Sometimes, answers student submit in MyOpenMath (MOM) are marked wrong for various reasons, even when the answer appears to be correct. Below are things you can do to avoid this problem.
1. Follow the directions to the problem exactly. If you are asked to solve, simply write the number. In general, do not write x=4 or {4}. If you are asked to write the answer in interval notation, use correct notation. For instance, for x≥4, write [4,oo). Do not use upper case letter O (OO) or zeroes (00) for the infinity symbol. Use 2 lower case o's or choose the infinity symbol in the Math Quill See more info below regarding the Math Quill.
1. Follow the directions to the problem exactly. If you are asked to solve, simply write the number. In general, do not write x=4 or {4}. If you are asked to write the answer in interval notation, use correct notation. For instance, for x≥4, write [4,oo). Do not use upper case letter O (OO) or zeroes (00) for the infinity symbol. Use 2 lower case o's or choose the infinity symbol in the Math Quill See more info below regarding the Math Quill.
2. After you put in your answer, ALWAYS click the preview button (if available). If there is a syntax error (such as entering the wrong variable or forgetting a symbol or using one incorrectly, etc.), you will be informed of that mistake, and you might notice some other problem you can correct before submitting your answer. It might be that the answer should be written as a fraction instead of a decimal, or that you have some wrong character or letter in your answer, or that the notation is wrong in some way. This is the system's way of helping you to correct the problem before submitting the answer. It's way less frustrating to always use Math Quill and always use Preview before you press submit so you don't have to do a new problem for a minor mistake in entering your answer. So it's a real time-saver.
2. After you put in your answer, ALWAYS click the preview button (if available). If there is a syntax error (such as entering the wrong variable or forgetting a symbol or using one incorrectly, etc.), you will be informed of that mistake, and you might notice some other problem you can correct before submitting your answer. It might be that the answer should be written as a fraction instead of a decimal, or that you have some wrong character or letter in your answer, or that the notation is wrong in some way. This is the system's way of helping you to correct the problem before submitting the answer. It's way less frustrating to always use Math Quill and always use Preview before you press submit so you don't have to do a new problem for a minor mistake in entering your answer. So it's a real time-saver.
3. Do not enter fractions as mixed numbers. If it isn't a proper fraction, write it as an improper fraction not a mixed number. So if an answer is two and a half, enter it as 5/2. Do not round decimals unless you are directed to do so, and in that case, round as directed. If you are not directed to round or write as a decimal, it's best to enter your answer as an exact reduced fraction unless it is an integer. If you are directed to write answer as an integer or reduced fraction, do NOT write in decimal form or as a mixed number. So if an answer is two and a half, enter it as 5/2, not 2.5.
3. Do not enter fractions as mixed numbers. If it isn't a proper fraction, write it as an improper fraction not a mixed number. So if an answer is two and a half, enter it as 5/2. Do not round decimals unless you are directed to do so, and in that case, round as directed. If you are not directed to round or write as a decimal, it's best to enter your answer as an exact reduced fraction unless it is an integer. If you are directed to write answer as an integer or reduced fraction, do NOT write in decimal form or as a mixed number. So if an answer is two and a half, enter it as 5/2, not 2.5.
4. If you do not use the Math Quill for a fraction where the numerator or denominator is not simply a number (like 5) or a single variable (like x), you need to put parentheses around the numerator and denominator. For instance: (x+5)/(3m)
4. If you do not use the Math Quill for a fraction where the numerator or denominator is not simply a number (like 5) or a single variable (like x), you need to put parentheses around the numerator and denominator. For instance: (x+5)/(3m)
4. Unless an answer is simple to input (such as a decimal or simple fraction like 2/3 or a simple expression like -4x), use the Math Quill to enter an answer by clicking in the answer box and then on the Yellow Bar on right. A pop up with math symbols appear so you may enter answer exactly how it should look--useful for fractions, radicals, exponents, etc. Preview answer before submitting. The Math Quill was not an option when MOM was created so in some problems there are directions for entering answers in a specific way to write square roots, etc., which can be confusing for many students. Ignore those directions and simply use the Math Quill instead. I highly recommend you use the Math Quill to enter almost all expressions containing fractions, exponents, square roots and radicals, etc. Math Quill also has special characters such as pi (π) or the infinity symbol. The Math Quill makes it MUCH EASIER to enter you answers. If you choose to enter your answers without using the Math Quill, always preview what it looks like before submitting your answer (if available--see #2 above), and also make sure you enter the correct letters. DO NOT CHANGE THE CASE FOR LETTERS. Especially be careful to use parentheses around what is in the numerator and a separate parentheses for what is in the denominator any time there is more than one term or factor in the numerator or denominator. To input a fraction where 1 is in numerator and 2x is in the denominator, you would need to write 1/(2x) Using the Math Quill makes entering expressions containing fractions a lot easier though!
4. Unless an answer is simple to input (such as a decimal or simple fraction like 2/3 or a simple expression like -4x), use the Math Quill to enter an answer by clicking in the answer box and then on the Yellow Bar on right. A pop up with math symbols appear so you may enter answer exactly how it should look--useful for fractions, radicals, exponents, etc. Preview answer before submitting. The Math Quill was not an option when MOM was created so in some problems there are directions for entering answers in a specific way to write square roots, etc., which can be confusing for many students. Ignore those directions and simply use the Math Quill instead. I highly recommend you use the Math Quill to enter almost all expressions containing fractions, exponents, square roots and radicals, etc. Math Quill also has special characters such as pi (π) or the infinity symbol. The Math Quill makes it MUCH EASIER to enter you answers. If you choose to enter your answers without using the Math Quill, always preview what it looks like before submitting your answer (if available--see #2 above), and also make sure you enter the correct letters. DO NOT CHANGE THE CASE FOR LETTERS. Especially be careful to use parentheses around what is in the numerator and a separate parentheses for what is in the denominator any time there is more than one term or factor in the numerator or denominator. To input a fraction where 1 is in numerator and 2x is in the denominator, you would need to write 1/(2x) Using the Math Quill makes entering expressions containing fractions a lot easier though!
If you want to type in answers instead of using the Math Quill, you have to be very careful with your syntax and ALWAYS put parentheses around what goes in the function. For instance if you want to the square root of 3, you cannot write sqrt3. You must write sqrt(3). ALWAYS PREVIEW YOUR ANSWER before submitting it no matter how you enter an answer. You will be prompted to change it if you made a syntax error, which will alleviate frustration if your answer is marked wrong for that reason. ^ is the symbol for raising something to an exponent. So x to the 4th power is written x^4.
Very Short Videos showing how to enter answers using Math Quill
How to enter an expression with exponents: https://youtu.be/jdaDztth6v4
How to enter Fraction with variables and exponents: https://youtu.be/92uyM7FicGM
How to Enter answers in Interval Notation and How to write the infinity symbol: https://youtu.be/DdRlC7x5Y_k
How to enter a radical expression using the square root: https://youtu.be/FzjszIC2jbA
How to enter a radical expression with a higher index such as the cube root or 5th root: https://youtu.be/KvJ9GXc_9i
How to enter a a more complicated rational expression which is a fraction, and has a quadratic in the numerator and factors in the denominator: https://youtu.be/IGIG71SZr-g
How to enter an exponential expression where the exponent is an algebraic expression such as (x-9): https://youtu.be/ra8fetEMxjg
How to enter a an expression with an exponent that is a negative fraction: https://youtu.be/GRwWiOULyIs
How to enter a logarithmic expression where the base is not 10: https://youtu.be/eNWTp1DAtew
Also, When you click on the answer box, it might state to answer as fractions instead of decimals, or some other directions. So always look at that info before entering your answer too.
NOTE: Sometimes, math symbols show incorrectly or a graph doesn't show up at all. For instance, something like x-squared might look like x2 instead of showing the 2 as an exponent. If that ever happens, log out of MOM and then log in again. That usually works. Sometimes there are issues with graphs not showing up, especially in some of the Mac browsers. Also, check that your "accessibility" option didn't get messed up somehow. Log out and log in, making sure "Use defaults" is selected. If that doesn't work, try the "Use image-based display" option, which should work if the default doesn't.
NOTE: Sometimes, math symbols show incorrectly or a graph doesn't show up at all. For instance, something like x-squared might look like x2 instead of showing the 2 as an exponent. If that ever happens, log out of MOM and then log in again. That usually works. Sometimes there are issues with graphs not showing up, especially in some of the Mac browsers. Also, check that your "accessibility" option didn't get messed up somehow. Log out and log in, making sure "Use defaults" is selected. If that doesn't work, try the "Use image-based display" option, which should work if the default doesn't.
Using your calculator correctly to compute expressions
Using your calculator correctly to compute expressions
It's very important you understand the order of operations, and use it correctly when entering functions and numbers in your calculator. For one, make sure you use parentheses as needed.
It's very important you understand the order of operations, and use it correctly when entering functions and numbers in your calculator. For one, make sure you use parentheses as needed.
When you have fractions, put a parentheses around the numerator and also the denominator, unless either the numerator or denominator is an integer or decimal number like 3 or -5 or .07, etc. If the numerator is a fraction (like 5/9) and the denominator is a fraction (like 2/7), it should be enter as (5/9)/(2/7)
When you enter a negative number, use the negative sign (usually the +/- symbol on a calculator), not the subtraction symbol.
If you want to divide (ln 4) by 7, and enter ln4/7 in your calculator, the calculator does order of operations so it first does the division and calculates 4/7 before taking the natural log of 4, which is the function. If you only want to take the ln of 4, make sure you enter ln(4)--putting parentheses around the 4 to indicate to only take the natural log of 4. So you can write it ln(4)/7 or (ln(4))/7.
Also if you wanted to find the natural log of 5/6, do NOT calculate 5/6 first and round it. Use parentheses in your calculator to entire the exact number and let the calculator do the rounding at the end. You should have entered: ln (5/6)
To find the ln(5/6) divided by .02, use parentheses in your calculator to entire the exact number and let the calculator do the rounding at the end. You should enter: (ln(5/6))/.02
The other option is to first enter the numerator which is ln(5/6) and enter. Then divide by .02 and enter.
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