About Math entry with CAS

Math entry with CAS is an item type that allows participants to enter answers to mathematical problems using a mathematical editor. The answers are automatically evaluated by a Computer Algebra System (CAS), which determines whether the participant's answer is mathematically equivalent to the correct answer, regardless of how it is written.

For example, the correct answer is . The CAS evaluation also accepts the answer below as a correct answer, because both answers are mathematically equivalent.

Note: Math entry with CAS is not standard enabled in your assessmentQ environment. If you are interested in using Math entry with CAS, please contact our Customer Success team via [email protected].

Math entry with CAS vs. Math entry

Math entry with CAS is a separate item type from Math entry:

While Math entry items require an exact match or manual grading, Math entry with CAS items use CAS for automatic evaluation of equivalents.
The math editor Math entry with CAS offers fewer buttons than the editor for Math entry. Only the buttons supported by the CAS evaluation can be used in Math entry with CAS, see the overview below.
Consequently, each item type has its own math editor templates.

Other than these differences, the two item types Math entry with CAS and Math entry are handled in the same way. In this document, you find all the information specific to Math entry with CAS. For more information on the common functionalities (such as adding math problems, configuring the math editor), see Math entry.

Buttons in math editor of Math entry with CAS

Creating a Math entry with CAS

To create/edit a Math entry with CAS, proceed as follows:

Go to Authoring > Items.
Go to the folder in which you want to add your item.
Click to add an item.
Select Math entry with CAS.
Result: The content pane of the item is opened.
Enter the item name in the breadcrumb at the top.
Optionally, click + Add block to add a content block and fill in the instruction.
Tip: It is possible to enter the instruction directly in the answer block. For more information, see Adding a math problem.
Click in the answer block and enter your math problem(s). More information.
Result: The Block tab is opened.
In the Block tab, define the math editor for participants. More information.
Open the Item tab and define the scoring settings:
- Select the scoring mechanism. More information.
- Define the options for the CAS evaluation. More information.
Click Preview to try the item.

About CAS evaluation

In a Math entry with CAS item, you add math problems that contain one or more gaps where participants enter their answers. You can add multiple problems to the same item. Each problem is evaluated independently by the CAS.

Math entry with CAS supports multiple gaps within a single problem. When a problem contains multiple gaps, the gaps are evaluated together and are interchangeable during evaluation.

Example:

As an author, you define the CAS options that will be applied during the evaluation of the participant’s answer. The following options are available:

CAS option	Explanation	Example
Approve all equivalent answers	All answers that are mathematically equivalent with one of the solutions will be approved automatically	If the correct solution is 1/2, then 2/4 or 0.5 or 0.50 will also be approved If the correct solution is 1/3, then 0.33 will not be approved, because 0.33 is rounded, and not mathematically equivalent with 1/3
Approve all equivalent answers, with a minimal precision of e.g. 2 decimals	All answers that are mathematically equivalent with one of the solutions will be approved automatically, as long as the first 2 decimals are correct.	If the correct solution is 1/3, then 0.33 will be considered correct, as it has 2 correct decimals. 0.333 or 0.3333 are also correct.
Approve answers that are identical to the solution, or have a different sequence of operations	The answer must contain the same components as the solution, but the order of operations can be different.	If the correct solution is 2x - 11, then -11 + 2x will be considered correct. However, - 5 - 6 + 2x will be considered incorrect.

Note: When Automatic evaluation of equivalent answers is activated, 'e' is interpreted as Euler's number, and 'i' is interpreted as the imaginary unit. We advise against using these characters if you want to create a math problem with variables.

Configuring the CAS evaluation

A math problem in a Math entry with CAS is by default evaluated by CAS.

The default CAS configuration that will be applied during the evaluation of the participant’s answer is set to Approve all equivalent answers.

As an author, you can configure the options for the CAS evaluation to your needs.

To define the CAS evaluation options for a Math entry with CAS item, proceed as follows:

Go to Authoring > Items and open your Math entry with CAS item.
Result: The content pane of the item is opened. At the right, the Item tab shows.
Click the Computer Algebra System (CAS) Edit icon.
Result: The Computer Algebra System (CAS) pop-up shows.
Configure the CAS evaluation options to your needs.
For more information about the CAS options, see above.
Click OK.
Result: The selected CAS option is shown in the Scoring section under the Item tab.

Adding a math problem

The procedure for adding a problem to a Math entry with CAS is the same as for Math entry. For more information, see Adding a math problem.

Note: When adding a problem that cannot be evaluated by CAS, a validation message will be shown. You will not be able to approve your item.
For example:

Configuring the math editor for participants

The procedure for configuring the math editor for Math entry with CAS is the same as for Math entry. For more information, see Configuring the math editor in Math entry.

Notes:

The math editor for Math entry with CAS offers fewer buttons than the editor for Math entry.
Therefore, you can only use the math editor templates for Math entry with CAS.

Updating to the latest math editor template

The procedure for updating the math editor template that is used in a Math entry with CAS is the same as for Math entry. For more information, see Updating to the latest math editor template.