Author a numeric question

A numeric question compares a student's numerical response with a defined numerical answer.

Numeric questions can be authored to accept the following numeric formats:

Pure numbers in decimal form
Pure numbers in scientific notation
Dollar values
Arithmetic and expressions
Negative signs or parentheses to indicate negative values
Numbers with a unit of measure

This question type automatically accepts equivalent responses, and the accepted accuracy and tolerance of student numerical responses can be controlled by defining additional grading details for the question.

To author a numeric question

To author a numeric question from the Question Editor:

Enter the question statement in the Question Text pane of the Question Editor.
TIP: Check out Use the Visual Editor for details on how to use this toolbar to the fullest to control the visual appearance of your numeric question text.
Click Möbius component to select the type of student response for this part of the question.
NOTE: A question can have multiple parts, with each question part using a different type of component. Example — A question could contain two components; the first part using a document upload student response, and the second part a multiple choice student response component.
Click Numeric from the list of student response components.
Assign a weight to the response. The default weighting is 1.
TIP: The weight of the component can be any integer greater than 0, and is calculated proportionate to the total of all weights across the question. Example — A question with two components could have the first weighted as 2, and the second weighted as 4. This means that the second component will be worth twice as much as the first when calculating the total grade for the question.
Enter the numeric component of the correct answer in the Numeric Part field.
NOTE: Equations and algebraic formulas can't be used as the correct answer.
(Optional) Enter the unit of measure for your correct answer in the Units Part field.
NOTE: Only specific units of measure are recognized by Möbius. Check out Author a question using recognized physical units for a comprehensive list of physical units that are recognized by Möbius.
NOTE: The Units field will be visible to students indicating that a unit of measure is required in their response if you've entered a value in the Units Part field during question authoring.
Students are provided with a Units Help link within the question if you've entered a value in the Units Part field during question authoring. Students can click within the Units answer field to reveal the Units Help link which contains details about the allowed units of measure and their equivalents.
The Units field won't be visible and answers are dimensionless if no value is entered in the Units Part field during question authoring.
Select the Numeric Format check boxes that you want to apply to your question. Check out the Numeric format properties section of this help topic for details on these options.
Make a selection from the Required with drop-down menu to determine the accepted accuracy and allowed tolerance of student responses for your question. Check out the Grading details for numeric questions section of this help topic for details on these options.
Click Insert to add this student response component to the question.
The component is inserted into your question.
Click Preview to trial your new question to ensure that it behaves as expected.
TIP: You first have to click the save icon if you're creating this question from within an Activity Editor. After the question has been saved, you can then click the preview icon to ensure that your new question behaves as expected.
Click Save to save your new question. Your new question is now stored in the Questions pane of the Content Repository.

Numeric format properties

The following numeric format options are available when deciding what type of responses will be accepted from your students:

Numeric format	Example of accepted response	Description
Accept 1000s separator	`1,234`	A comma as the thousands separator is accepted in student responses. Selected by default.
Accept scientific notation	`1.234E+3`	Scientific notation is accepted in student responses. Selected by default.
Accept $ sign	`$1234`	A leading dollar sign (`$`) is accepted in student responses.
Accept arithmetic	`1230+4`	Arithmetic operators (Example — `+`, `-`, ``, `/`, `()`, and `^`) are accepted in student responses. Selected by default. TIP:* If your correct answer includes arithmetic, ensure that the Accept arithmetic numeric format is enabled. Example — If your answer is `1/3` and Accept arithmetic is disabled, students won't be able to submit a correct answer of `1/3`. NOTE: Parentheses can't be accepted to indicate negative values if the Accept arithmetic numeric format is enabled.

Grading details for numeric questions

The options of the Required with drop-down menu allow you to define the accepted accuracy and allowed tolerance of student responses for your question:

Accuracy or tolerance option	Example	Description
Absolute accuracy	Correct answer: `1234` Correct student response: `1234` Correct student response: `$1,234` Correct student response: `1233+1` Correct student response: `123.4E+1` Incorrect student response: `1234.1`	The student's response must be an exact match (or be equivalent) up to floating-point limits (approximately eight decimal places).
Set # figures	Correct answer requiring `four` significant figures: `123.4` Correct student response: `123.4` Correct student response: `1234E-1` Partially correct student response: `123.40` Incorrect student response: `123`	Enter how many significant figures must be in the student's response using the # figures field. IMPORTANT: Your defined correct answer in the Numeric Part field should have the same number of significant figures as defined by the Set # figures grading property. Example — If the correct answer is `123.4`, then `4` should be the value entered in the # figures field. NOTE: A partial grade of `50%` is awarded if the Set # figures grading property is defined and a student's response is mathematically correct but contains the incorrect number of significant figures. NOTE: The Set # figures grading property can't be paired with the Accept arithmetic numeric format. TIP: When working with the Set # figures grading property and algorithms, it's recommended that you use the `sig` algorithmic function to create algorithmic variables. By using these variables in the question statement, feedback, hints, and answer, you ensure that values are displayed with the correct number of significant digits. Check out Functions for algorithmic questions.
Margin of error	Within `0.1` of correct answer: `123.4` Correct student response: `123.4` Correct student response: `123.5` Correct student response: `123.3` Incorrect student response: `123.6` Incorrect student response: `123.2`	The student's response must be within +/- (inclusive) of the value defined in the Margin of Error field.
Margin in n'th digit	Within `1` of correct answer at the `fifth` digit: `123.45` Correct student response: `123.45` Correct student response: `123.46` Correct student response: `123.44` Partially correct student response: `123.455` Incorrect student response: `123.445` Incorrect student response: `123.47` Incorrect student response: `123.5`	The student's response must be within +/- (inclusive) of the value defined in the Margin of Error field at the significant digit specified in the Digit field. NOTE: A partial grade of `50%` is awarded if the Margin in n'th digit grading property is defined and a student's response is mathematically correct but contains the incorrect number of significant figures. NOTE: The Margin in n'th digit grading property can't be paired with the Accept arithmetic numeric format.
Percentage margin	Within `1.0%` (`1.234`) of correct answer: `123.4` Correct student response: `124.6` Correct student response: `122.166` Incorrect student response: `124.7` Incorrect student response: `124.635` Incorrect student response: `122.09`	The student's response must be within +/- (inclusive) percent of the defined value in the Margin of error field.