--- loncom/html/adm/help/tex/Math_Response_Problems.tex 2007/05/22 00:55:09 1.2
+++ loncom/html/adm/help/tex/Math_Response_Problems.tex 2012/08/06 22:01:24 1.3
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
\label{Math_Response_Problems}
Math Response is a way to have a problem graded based on an algorithm that is executed inside of a computer algebra system.
-The use of this response type is
-generally discouraged, since the responses will not be analyzable by the LON-CAPA statistics tools.
+It is extremely powerful, as it tests answers for conditions rather than agreement with a particular correct answer. An unfortunate
+byproduct, however, is that it cannot be analyzed by several of the LON-CAPA statistics tools.
Which computer algebra system is to be used is specified in the cas argument of the mathresponse tag; currently, only Maxima is available.
LON-CAPA sets up two arrays inside the computer algebra system: RESPONSE and LONCAPALIST. RESPONSE contains the student input by component, for example, if "3,42,17" is entered, RESPONSE[2] would be 42. LONCAPALIST contains the arguments passed in the args of mathresponse.