## Question types: Algebra

qtype_algebra
Maintained by Jean-Michel Védrine
Question type where the student must answer by typing an algebra formula. Correctness can be checked by three different methods.
352 sites
82 downloads
14 fans

MOODLE ALGEBRA QUESTION TYPE
Created by Roger Moore

Algebra based question type for Moodle.

This plugin implements an algebraic question type where student responses are treated as an algebraic expression and compared to instructor provided answers using the basic rules of algebra.

### Sets

This plugin is part of set Seeking new maintainer.

### Contributors

Jean-Michel Védrine (Lead maintainer)
Roger Moore: Original Author
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### Comments

Show comments
• Sat, 6 Jun 2015, 5:51 PM
Hi Jean-Michel! Is your Question Type working with Moodle 2.9?
• Sat, 6 Jun 2015, 8:29 PM
Hello Bernhard, no problem has been reported for Moodle 2.9 and my tests seems to show everything is working as expected. But to be honest I must say that my production website s not running 2.9 and that I only have a few algebra questions (I converted a lot of questions to the formulas question type). Anyway I am still actively maintaining the algebra question type so if you find something broken with Moodle 2.9, create an issue in the CONTRIB tracker and I will do my best to fix the problem.
• Thu, 3 Sep 2015, 9:40 PM
Hello Jean-Michel,

we are using the algebra question type on a Moodle 2.9 server, but we have a problem with the formula preview: We cannot make the TeX preview work with MathJax. MathJax is enabled and works everywhere else on the site, but the preview in the algebra questions remains raw TeX code. If we enable the old TeX filter, the formulas get converted to images, but it also breaks the displayed formulas in the rest of the site: All TeX is interpreted as inline math.

Do you have any idea, what might cause this and how to fix it?
• Mon, 14 Sep 2015, 6:10 PM
Hello everyone,

I solved my problem described above. To fix the LaTeX preview of the algebra questions, I had to insert the line

into the "Within HEAD" section in the "Site administration > Appearance > Additional HTML" settings. Now the preview uses MathJax as it should.

Cheers
Lukas
• Mon, 14 Sep 2015, 6:13 PM
Okay, moodle seems to eat my html.

The line should read:

[script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.mathjax.org/mathjax/2.5-latest/MathJax.js?config=TeX-AMS_HTML"][/script]

Just replace the square brackets with the angular html kind.
• Tue, 24 Nov 2015, 7:08 PM
Dear Jean-Michel,

Similarly to Lukas we are using the algebra question type on a Moodle 2.8 server, the TeX preview does not work with MathJax. MathJax is enabled and works everywhere else on the site, but the preview in the algebra questions remains raw TeX code. The fix Lukas mentions above cannot be implemented on our server, is there any alternative way of correcting this?
Thanking you in advance,
Janice
• Sun, 24 Jan 2016, 8:32 PM
Hello,
I have released a new version that should solve the problem with the display of the formula entered by the student.
I am not quite satisfied with the way I choose to solve this problem but that's all I can do for now.
I think it's honest to say that my teacher career will end in 5 months from now and I am not sure I will be able to maintain that plugin after that date.
• Mon, 11 Apr 2016, 1:06 AM
Hello!

Thanks for your great plugin! I sometimes get the following error displayed:

Notice: Undefined property: qtype_algebra_parser_bracket::$_sign in /path_to_moodle/question/type/algebra/parser.php on line 896 Notice: Undefined property: qtype_algebra_parser_bracket::$_sign in /path_to_moodle/question/type/algebra/parser.php on line 1339 Notice: Undefined property: qtype_algebra_parser_bracket::$_sign in /path_to_moodle/question/type/algebra/parser.php on line 896 Notice: Undefined property: qtype_algebra_parser_bracket::$_sign in /path_to_moodle/question/type/algebra/parser.php on line 1339

We use Moodle 3.0.2

Any suggestions?

Dear,
Berni
• Fri, 2 Sep 2016, 4:06 PM
Dear all,

Since the upgrade to moodle 3,0 , we get the same error message as Bernhard Piazzi (above) so that most algebra questions won't work any more on our site:

As soon as there is a parenthesis in the answer of the student (example 8*(4x−3) ) we get this error message:

"Notice: Undefined property: qtype_algebra_parser_bracket::$_sign in /var/www/moodle-3.1.1plus/question/type/algebra/parser.php on line 896" (or sometimes "line 1339") If somebody came accross this same problem and were able to solve it, could you please help me ? We have no moodle developper on our site and without your help our hundreds of algebra questions are just going to get lost ! Many thanks in advance! Sophie • Sat, 10 Sep 2016, 12:00 AM Dear all, a friend helped me with the above problem (Notice: Undefined property: qtype_algebra_parser_bracket::$_sign in /var/www/moodle-3.1.1plus/question/type/algebra/parser.php on line 896" (or sometimes "line 1339"))
I'll try to translate the solution:

A variable was not initialized ($_sign) in the constructor of the class qtype_algebra_parser_bracket. To correct this you have to modify the file : question/type/algebra/parser.php (line 1309) and add an initializing line : function qtype_algebra_parser_bracket($text) {
parent::qtype_algebra_parser_term(self::NARGS,self::$formats[$text],$text);$this->_sign=''; // line added
$this->_open=$text;

I hope it helps if you come accross the same problem.
Sophie
• Sun, 22 Jan 2017, 6:51 PM
With debug on, this message appears:
Deprecated: Methods with the same name as their class will not be constructors in a future version of PHP; qtype_algebra_parser_term has a deprecated constructor in ....... /question/type/algebra/parser.php on line 53
• Fri, 10 Mar 2017, 2:43 AM
Hello!

I would like to get my students to answer the question with a simplified answer. The easiest way would be to limit the length of their answer. Is there a way to do this?

Bernhard
• Mon, 13 Mar 2017, 5:12 PM
Moodle 3.2.2:
Deprecated: Methods with the same name as their class will not be constructors in a future version of PHP; qtype_algebra_parser_term has a deprecated constructor in
..\server\moodle\question\type\algebra\parser.php on line 53
• Wed, 17 May 2017, 1:58 AM
algebra class has always been an issue for my kids; they are currently practicing with this algebra tutor https://www.studypug.com/algebra-help - but I want to give your tool a shot. thanks for your work.
• Fri, 21 Jul 2017, 2:46 PM
I thank you for the information! I was looking for and could not find. You helped me!
https://guestexperiencefeedback.com/www-mcdvoice-com/
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