If I ask a student to enter a value for x, then enter the output that value elicits from my function, how would I code a variable for the student's input value.
Student screen:
Input a value for x: ____________
What output value would you get for f(**student number here**) if f(x) = x^2 - 7x + 12?
f(**student number here**) = _______________
Answer code: $x*$x - 7*$x + 12
It's the "$x" that I do not know how to code in Canvas.
Thanks
John, you can't even do this with a formula question with the current quizzing system (a new one is under development and I'm not sure what it will allow, but I doubt that it will allow this kind of question out of the box).
Both numeric and formula questions allow for a single response, so you will not be able to ask for the student's input and the answer to the question in the same question.
Questions are also independent of each other, so you cannot use the question or answer from one question to drive another. This has been a pain for those teachers who would like to ask "Here's a set of data, what is the mean and standard deviation?"
A formula question would allow you to tell the student what value to use for x and then ask them for f(x), but not allow them to enter the value directly and use it in in the response
What you can do with a formula question is something like this.
If f(x) = x2-7x+12, then what is f(2)?
When you type your question, you could randomize the value of 2 by picking a name for the constant. Let's say you call it a. Whenever you want that random number to appear, then you put in in brackets in the question text as [a]. Then you could type in
If f(x) = x2-7x+12, then what is f([a])?
Then you set the parameters for the random number and in the formula section, you type a*a-7*a+12 (don't use [a] here).
You could even make that more generic and random the coefficients.
If f(x) = x2[b]x+[c], then what is f([a])?
Formula: a*a+b*a+c
In this case, make sure that b is a negative number so that you get a subtraction sign in there.
If b needs to be a positive number then you would need to manually enter the + sign.
If f(x) = x2+[b]x+[c], then what is f([a])?
The formula is the same: a*a+b*a+c
Thanks for the feedback. I have written such questions in other products. It can be a good way to individualize questions (asking a student to enter the month adn date of their birthday to generate an arithmetic or geometric sequence, for example)
John Pritchett, MEd
Math Department Co-chair
Athens Drive High School
Formula questions can generate different versions so that each student gets a randomized (but not unique as the same version may go to more than one student) question. Personalizing that based off their input is what cannot be done with the core Canvas functionality. You will find that math and science support in the current Canvas quizzes is not as fully developed as other areas. Some people have switched to using third-party plugins, others have been forced (and this is not necessarily a bad thing) to reevaluate what they are really trying to assess and focus on that. For my really cool, carefully crafted over years of refinement, highly personalized problems, I don't even mess with Canvas except to hold the grade when they're done.
John,
Were you able to find an answer to your question? I am going to go ahead and mark this question as answered because there hasn't been any more activity in a while so I assume that you have the information that you need. If you still have a question about this or if you have information that you would like to share with the community, by all means, please do come back and leave a comment. Also, if this question has been answered by one of the previous replies, please feel free to mark that answer as correct.
Robbie
Short answer is you can’t, you need to use a formula question. Here are some guides that will help - How do I create a Formula quiz question with a single variable? & How do I create a Simple Formula quiz question?