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Introduction to WeBWorK for Students

How to Enter Answers in WeBWorK?

Introduction to WeBWorK for Students

I. What is WeBWorK ?

WeBWorK is a system that allows professors to put the homework problems on the web and allows students to solve these problems over the web. Using WeBWorK, students may try to answer homework problems more than once. After each try, a message appears telling the student whether the answer is correct or not. This allows students to try to find out what they did wrong and hopefully to understand the topic of the question better.

II. How to use WeBWorK to do your homework

Using WeBWorK is quite simple. Below are the basic steps on how to get started.

NOTE: Most pages of WeBWorK also contain directions. Therefore, if you are ever unsure of what you should do, try reading the directions and descriptions on the page at which you are looking.

1. Find a computer with Internet access.

    

2. Log on to WeBWorK:
   • Go to: http://webwork.math.ttu.edu/webwork2/aw05fm1351/
   • This will get you to the main login page of your course. You must have a user login name and a password which I will send to you via email or you can get it from me in my office. (You should change your password immediately on your first time logging in.)
   • Enter your login name and password.
   • If your login is incorrect, you will be told so, and you can return to the login page and try again. (If your login and password doesn't work, talk to your instructor.)

    

3. Look at the problem sets
   • Assuming you made it to the Valid login page, click on 'Begin Problem Sets' button.
   • You should see the problem sets available to you. These will be labeled OPEN or CLOSED. OPEN means you can work on the set and it can count towards your grade.
   • Select a problem set by clicking on it.
   • You now have two choices: 'Do Problem Set' or 'Get Hard Copy'

    

4. Print out the Problem set
   • This step is optional, but it is recommended that you print out the problems to work on at home rather than working at the computer.
   • Select the format you are interested in (probably pdf) and click on 'Get Hard Copy.'
   • Print out this file. The file might immediately come up on your screen, or you might have to save to disk. This depends on how your computer is configured.
   • You can now take the problem set home and work on it on paper.
   • To view pdf files, you can use adobe software available here: Adobe.

    

5. Work out the homework -- On Paper!
   • After printing out the problem set, go away from the computer and work on the homework. One reason to do this is that it is very easy to make a mistake and not see it when you are sitting at the computer.
   • After doing all the homework, return to the computer.

    

6. Submit your answers
   • Click on a problem set and click 'Do Problem Set'
   • You should see the list of problems available.
   • Click on Problem 1.
   • Select a type setting mode. 'Typeset2' makes most mathematical formulas look nice. 'Formatted Text' is quicker, but might not make the formulas look as nice.
   • Click on 'Get Problem'
   • Enter your answer and 'Preview Answer'
     (see How to enter Answers in WeBWorK)
   • Click on 'Submit Answer' to submit your answer for a grade.

    

7. Look at a summary of your WeBWorK homework scores.

   This is the second section of the "Begin Problem Sets Page." If you click on the button 'Get Summary', you will see your current scores for all available problem sets.

    

8. Logout when you are done

IV. Important facts to know

• What to do if you have problems with WeBWorK:
  
  • If you have a problem logging in, contact your instructor or TA.

     

  • If you have a problem printing out a set, ask a consultant at a university computer lab. If you don't get sufficient help, contact your instructor or TA.

     

• If you are logged on to WeBWorK for longer that 30 minutes without any activity, you will be asked to log in again. This is a security measure. You can resume your work after you logged back in. All your results from the last log in will be saved.

How to Enter Answers in WeBWorK

1. Mathematical Symbols Available in WeBWorK
   • +  Addition
   • -  Subtraction
   • *  Multiplication. Multiplication may also be indicated by a space or juxtaposition, that is, just writing symbols next to each other, e.g. 2x, 2 x or 2*x, also 2(3+4). You can use the latter form, without a space, only provided no misunderstanding is possible. For example, you wouldn't enter 34 for 3*4. To be on the safe side, you should always use * for multiplication.
   • /   Division
   • ^ or **  Denotes powers. (2^3 and 2**3 are the same to WeBWorK)
   • All kinds of brackets and paretheses: (...), [...], {...}

2. Syntax for entering expressions
   • Be careful entering expressions just as you would be careful entering expressions in a calculator.

   • Sometimes using the * symbol to indicate multiplication makes things easier to read. For example (1+2)*(3+4) and (1+2)(3+4) are both valid. So are 3*4 and 3 4 (3 space 4, not 34) but using a * makes things clearer.

   • Use ('s and )'s to make your meaning clear. You can also use ['s and ]'s and {'s and }'s.

   • Don't enter 2/4+5 (which is 5.5) when you really want 2/(4+5) (which is 2/9).

   • Don't enter 2/3*4 (which is 8/3) when you really want 2/(3*4) (which is 2/12).

   • Entering big quotients with square brackets, e.g. [1+2+3+4]/[5+6+7+8], is a good practice.

   • Be careful when entering functions. It's always good practice to use parentheses when entering functions. Write sin(t) instead of sint or sin t. But WeBWorK is smart enough to accept sin t or even sint. But sin 2t is really sin(2)t, i.e. (sin(2))*t. Be careful.

   • Be careful entering powers of trigonometric, and other, functions. You write (sin(t))^2 for the square of sin(t), and never sin^2t.

   • For example, 2+3sin^2(4x) is wrong. You should enter: 2+3*(sin(4*x))^2. Why does the last expression work? Because things in parentheses are always done first [ i.e. (4*x), and then (sin(4*x))], next all exponents are taken, giving (sin(4*x))^2, next all multiplications and divisions are performed, giving 3*(sin(4*x))^2. Finally, all additions and subtractions are performed, giving 2+3*(sin(4*x))^2.

     You could have entered 2+3sin(4x)^2. (Indeed, things in parentheses go first, giving (4x), next functions are evaluated, giving sin(4x), next all exponents are taken giving sin(4x)^2, next all multiplications and divisions are performed, giving 3sin(4x)^2. Finally, all additions and subtractions are done, leading to 2+3sin(4x)^2.) However, isn't 2+3*(sin(4*x))^2 much clearer than 2+3sin(4x)^2? Why not be clear?

   • Remember that multiplication and division have the same precedence and there are no universal rules as to which should be done first in the absence of paretheses. WeBWorK and many computers read things from left to right, so 2/3*4 means (2/3)*4=8/3. But some other computers will read 2/3*4 as 2/(3*4)=1/6. The same lack of consistent rules concerns powers, expressions like 2^3^4.
     The only way to make sure that you are entering what you want to enter is the use of parentheses!!!

   • Use the "Preview Button" to see exactly how your entry looks. E.g. to tell the difference between 1+2/3+4 and [1+2]/[3+4] click the "Preview Button".

   • If a problem calls for a decimal answer, give at least four decimal digits, or as many as the problem specifies. For example, write 2.3453 instead of 2.34.

3. Intervals in WeBWorK
   • What is the domain of f(x)=sqrt(x)? On answer is x>=0 (x is greater than or equal to 0). The way to enter this in WeBWorK is in interval notation: [0,infinity).
   • Other intervals:
     • (2,3] is the set 2<x<=3.
     • (-infinity,5) is the set x<5.
     • (-infinity, infinity) is the set of all real numbers.
     • (2,3]U[4,5) is the set 2<x<=3 or 4<=x<5. (This is a union of two intervals and can be very important.)

4. Mathematical Constants Available In WeBWorK
   • pi This gives 3.14159265358979, e.g. cos(pi) is -1
   • e This gives 2.71828182845905, e.g. ln(e*2) is 1 + ln(2)

5. Scientific Notation Available In WeBWorK
   • 2.1E2 gives 210
   • 2.1E-2 gives .021

6. Cube roots and such
   • x^(1/3) gives the cube root of x
   • Other roots are also done with fractional exponents.

7. Mathematical Functions Available In WeBWorK
   • abs( ) The absolute value
   • cos( ) Note: cos( ) uses radian measure
   • sin( ) Note: sin( ) uses radian measure
   • tan( ) Note: tan( ) uses radian measure
   • sec( ) Note: sec( ) uses radian measure
   • exp( ) The same function as e^x
   • log( ) The natural log
   • ln( ) Another name for the natural log
   • logten( ) The log to the base 10
   • arcsin( )
   • asin( ) Another name for arcsin
   • arccos( )
   • acos( ) Another name for arccos
   • arctan( )
   • atan( ) Another name for arctan
   • sinh( )
   • cosh( )
   • tanh( )
   • sech( )
   • sqrt( )
   • sgn( ) The sign function, either -1, 0, or 1
   • step( ) The step function (0 if x < 0, 1 if x >= 0)
   • fact( ) The factorial function (defined only for non negative integers)

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   This page (modified somewhat) is from UR WeBWorK Docs