[LON-CAPA-users] formula response or maxima response example requested

[Roy Vson]

Hello: just saw this post.  You could sneak up on the problem :  [1]
what is the coefficient of x**3? [2] ...

On Nov 29, 2007 12:45 PM, Jay Sullivan <jmsloncapa@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> I'm looking for an example of a specific type of formula response (or maxima
> graded response).
>
> What I would like a student to do is to enter a polynomial function.
> However, I want to be sure that they have entered it in expanded form ( i.e.
> _not_ as a product of factors). I know that formula response will accept
> either as correct since the test function matches the input function in
> either case.
>
> Here is a specific example, to clarify:
>
>  Find a polynomial of least degree having only real coefficients, with zeros
> -3,-2,-1,1,2,3 and with f(0) = -36.
>
> Using a loncapa formula response either of the answers below are graded as
> correct:
>
> (x+3)(x+2)(x-1)(x-2)(x-3)   OR   x^6 -14*x^4 +49*x^2 -36
>
> I would like to be able to require that students explicitly enter the second
> version. I'm guessing there is a way to
> do this with maxima? I'd rather not use a string response.
>
> Thanks for any tips or related examples......
> Jay
>
>