The isSimplified method checks if a value is in its most simplified version.
isSimplified does not take any value and is generally used as a supporting method in conjunction with equivSymbolic.
For example, if you set 3x as the the Value with equivSymbolic then add the isSimplified method, a learner would be marked incorrect for 5x - 2x, as that expression is not simplified.
Examples
Example 1 - Simplifying fractions
In this example we combine equivSymbolic and isSimplified to check that a fraction has been fully simplified.
In the image below, we can see that 40/10 would be marked incorrect as it has not been simplified. You can also see that 4% has been marked incorrect as it is not equivalent.
Example 2 - Variable expressions
In this example, we enter the unsimplified expression into the value field and let the marking methods do the simplification for us.
In the example answers below you can see that both 3x² + 2x and 2x + 3x² are marked as correct as they are equivalent. However x² + 2x + 2x² has been marked as incorrect as it has not been simplified.
Additional Options with the isSimplified method
Allow thousands separator
Authors can specify what separators learners can use. From the Thousand Separator drop-down menu, you can select dot, comma, and/or space. The Decimal Separator menu contains the option for either a dot or a comma.
Note: Allow decimal marks has to be selected for these options to show and that the specified thousand separators and decimal separator cannot be the same, e.g. both dot.