The isExpanded method checks that an expression is in its simplified and expanded form.
For example, if you set 3x+6 as the the Value with equivSymbolic then add the isExpanded method, a learner would be marked incorrect for 3(x + 2), as that expression is factorised, not expanded.
isExpanded doesn’t take any value and is generally used as a supporting method in conjunction with equivSymbolic.
Example: Expanding an algebraic expression
In this example, we use isExpanded with equivSymbolic. The whole expression is entered into the equivSymbolic value field to ensure learners’ responses are expanded and also match the expression.
The image below shows how three different learner responses would be marked. You can also see that the expansion is required to be simplified to be marked correct.
Additional Options with the isExpanded 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.