The following set of tips is intended to illustrate the variety of ways in which mathematical expressions can be entered using the Answer Editor. It is in no way a thorough description of the Answer Editor, which includes many other kinds of mathematical expressions and constructions.

Here, "Button" will always refer to a button on the Answer Editor keypad. By "select" we mean drag the mouse over the expression to be selected with the mouse button depressed, so that a red box appears surrounding it.

Percentage   48%

The next example illustrates the possibility, in some cases, of using either the Answer Editor keypad or the regular keyboard to enter signs:

• Enter the expression you wish to express as a percentage and click on the percent button; OR
• Enter the expression you wish to express as a percentage and then enter the (keyboard) percent sign.

Fraction   ⁷⁄₁₀

Fractions can be entered conveniently at least three ways:

• Enter the numerator, enter a (keyboard) forward slash character, and enter the denominator; OR
• Enter the numerator, click on the fraction button, and enter the denominator; OR
• Click on the fraction button, enter the numerator, then click on the blue square in the position of the denominator and enter the denominator.

Mixed Number   5 ⁷⁄₈

Mixed numbers can be entered in more than one way, but they each require use of the mixed number button:

• Enter the whole number part, click on the mixed number button, enter the numerator, press Enter, and enter the denominator; OR
• Click on the mixed number button, click on the first blue box (for the whole part), enter the whole number part, press the right arrow, enter the numerator, move the cursor to the denominator position, and enter the denominator (i.e., fill in the boxes).

Repeating Decimal   1.‾27

• Enter all digits that precede the repeating pattern, including the decimal point (a period on the keyboard) and any decimal places preceding the pattern, click on the bar button, and enter the repeating pattern; OR
• Enter all digits, including the decimal point (a period on the keyboard) and all decimal positions following it, select the repeating pattern only, and click on the bar button.

Fraction in square root followed by multiplier   √ ⁵⁄₈ × 3

For this example only one input method is given, but others could be suggested:

• Click on the square root sign button, click on the fraction button, enter the numerator, tab, enter the denominator, then tab, enter an asterisk (from the keyboard), and enter the multiplier.

List   1, 2, 3

For the purposes of the following example, assume that there is a list consisting of three components to be entered:

• Enter the first expression, click on the list button (or press the keyboard comma), enter the second expression, click on the list button, enter the third expression, click on the list button, and enter the fourth expression; OR
• Click on the list button (or press the keyboard comma) twice, click on the first blue box, enter the first expression, move the cursor right, enter the second expression, move the cursor right, and enter the third expression.

Answers with Units   10 cups

There are also some cases where the Answer Editor does part of the formatting. For example, in problems where answers must be expressed in some kind of units, such as dollars or candies, the unit expression needed may appear in advance.

Square Root   √81

• Click on the square root button and enter the expression into the square root sign; OR
• Enter the expression you wish to appear under the square root sign, select it, and click on the square root button.

In the simple example just given the second method reverses the sequence of steps of the first method. Such complementary methods are typical.

Absolute Value   |-6|

• Click on the absolute value button and enter the expression whose absolute value you wish to express; OR
• Enter the expression whose absolute value you wish to express, select it, and click on the absolute value button.

Exponent   3²

• Click on the Exponent button, enter the base, then move the cursor to the exponent box and enter the exponent; OR
• Enter the expression you wish to raise to a power, click on the exponent button, and enter the exponent.

NOTE. If the number you wish to raise to a power is an expression consisting of more than one symbol, it may need to be enclosed in parentheses. The Answer Editor will not do this for you. If no parentheses are used, only the last symbol will be raised to a power.

Square Root Preceded by Multiplier   2√6

With more complex expressions you can use the mouse to place the cursor in the needed position, as in the second method:

• Enter the multiplier, click on the square root button, and enter the expression you wish to be under the square root sign; OR
• Click on the square root button, click to the left of the square root sign, enter the multiplier, tab (or press the right arrow, or press Enter, or click on the blue box under the square root sign), and enter the expression you wish to be under the square root sign.