Check the answer-box instructions and how XYZ Homework reads your answer before you submit. Parentheses, a space, or an extra y= can change what your typing means.

When you click or tab into an answer box, a tip about that box can appear under it, for example “Enter your answer as an expression. Example: 3x^2+1, x/5, (a+b)/c”. Read it first. It tells you whether the box wants a number, an expression, an equation, an interval or a point.

Use these symbols

  • + and - add and subtract.
  • * multiplies. You can also leave it out: 3x and 2(x+1) are read as multiplication.
  • / divides and makes fractions: 3/4.
  • ^ makes an exponent: x^2.
  • sqrt( ) is a square root: sqrt(x+1).
  • abs( ) or two bars is absolute value: abs(x-3) or |x-3|.
  • pi is π. e is the number e.
  • oo is infinity and -oo is negative infinity.
  • log(x) is log base 10 and ln(x) is the natural log.

Use parentheses to group

When you type without the equation editor (calculator-style entry), a slash (/), an exponent (^) or a function such as sqrt reaches only the very next number or letter unless you add parentheses. The table shows how plain typing reads each answer. The equation editor builds the math as you type, so check what it shows before you submit.

You meanTypeNot
1 over 2x1/(2x)1/2x (that is one-half times x)
x plus 1, all over x minus 1(x+1)/(x-1)x+1/x-1
x to the one-half powerx^(1/2) or sqrt(x)x^1/2 (that is x divided by 2)
the square root of x+1sqrt(x+1)sqrt x+1 (that is the square root of x, plus 1)
negative x, squared(-x)^2-x^2 (that is the negative of x squared)

Don’t put spaces inside numbers

In a box that accepts calculations or expressions, a space between two numbers means multiply: 1 500 is read as 1 times 500, not fifteen hundred. Type 1500.

Equations and expressions

  1. If the question already shows y = (or a similar start) in front of the box, type only the right side: 3x+2, not y=3x+2. If you type an equals sign into a box that wants an expression, the preview warns “syntax error: you gave an equation, not an expression”.

  2. If the tip says “Enter your answer as an equation”, type the whole equation, for example y=3x^2+1.

  3. Use the letters the question uses. Expression and equation tips end with “Be sure your variables match those in the question”. If you type a different letter, the preview warns “Check your variables - you might be using an incorrect one”, and the answer is scored wrong.

Intervals, infinity and “does not exist”

  • Interval notation uses brackets and parentheses: [2,5).
  • Join intervals with a capital U for union: (-oo,2] U [4,oo).
  • If the solution is the empty set, type DNE in an interval box. The tip says “Enter DNE for an empty set.”
  • In a number box, DNE means “does not exist”. The tip says “Enter DNE for Does Not Exist, oo for Infinity”.
  • If the tip asks for a reduced fraction, reduce it: 5/3, not 10/6.

Check how your answer was read

With plain typing (calculator-style entry), most boxes that take an expression or a calculation have a Preview button next to them. The button shows your answer as formatted math, so you can see how it was read before you submit, and it warns you about problems such as “unmatched parens”. A box that asks only for an integer or decimal number has no Preview button, and some questions are set up without one.

A preference called Live preview decides whether the preview updates as you type (“Show live preview of answer entry as I type”) or only when you select the button (“Only show a preview when I click the Preview button”).

With the equation editor on, there is no Preview button. The editor shows your math as you build it.

Choose the equation editor or plain typing

In an assignment, a switch icon at the top of the page changes every answer box on the page between the equation editor (with a palette of math buttons) and plain typing. Point at the icon to see its name, Use equation editor.

To change the starting choice for every assignment, set the Math Entry preference to Equation editor with entry palette or Calculator-style text entry:

  1. Open your preferences. See Accessibility features and settings for where to find them.

  2. Under Math Entry, choose the option you want.

  3. Select Update Info, then reload the assignment page.

Tip

If the equation editor keeps turning your typing into something you didn’t mean, switch it off and type the answer with the symbols above. Then use Preview to check it.