[LON-CAPA-users] Formula response

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:40:30 -0400

I am trying to code some formularesponse problems, and hav=
e run into a difficulty. I am hoping someone knows a trick to make this wor=
k. I want the student to be able to input either of the following re=
sponses: G*m*M/R^2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; or 6.67e-11*m*M/R^2 <=
br>Normally, I have been making this work by something like &lt;form=
ularesponse answer=3D"(G * m * M) / R^2" samples=3D"G,m,M,R@6.67e-11,1,1,1:=
6.67e-11,100,100,100#8"&gt;=
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;textline readonly=3D"no" size=3D"25" /&gt; &=
lt;/formularesponse&gt; The problem: the LonCapa Samples logic d=
oesn't seem to recognize the exponential notation. I get an error that the =
computer's answer is wrong. If I do the same problem, but coded 6.67=
 (instead of 6.67e-11), it works fine (other than being off by 11 orders of=
 magnitude!). So, how do I get this notation to work? It also appear=
s that the input textline does not allow exponentials. Coding the following=
 &lt;formularesponse answer=3D"(G * m * M) /=
 R^2" samples=3D"G,m,M,R@0.0000000000667,1,1,1:0.00=
00000000667,100,100,100#8"&gt; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
; &lt;textline readonly=3D"no" size=3D"25" /&gt; &lt;/formularesponse&g=
t; avoids the "computer answer is wrong" error. But, entering=
 6.67e-11 *m*M/R^2 does not work. I assume the problem is t=
hat it thinks the "e" is a variable... A lot of these problems have =
things like Earth's mass, where the exponential notation is really necessar=
y. Any thoughts? Thanks, brew