Tips & Common Mistakes¶

Always Preview Before Submitting¶

The math input box shows a formatted preview of your expression as you type. Before submitting, check the preview to make sure the system interpreted your answer the way you intended.

Common situations where the preview catches mistakes: - A fraction that should be (a+b)/c but typed as a+b/c renders as a + b/c — wrong - An exponent like e^2x renders as e^2 · x — the x is not in the exponent

Grouping with Parentheses¶

Parentheses control what is included in a fraction denominator, exponent, or function argument.

What you want	Correct input	Common mistake
(a+b)/c	`(a+b)/c`	`a+b/c` → only `b/c` is a fraction
e^(2x)	`e^(2x)`	`e^2x` → only `2` is the exponent
sqrt(x+1)	`sqrt(x+1)`	`sqrtx+1` → only `x` is under the radical
sin(2x)	`sin(2x)`	`sin2x` → interpreted as `sin(2) * x`

Multiplication¶

Use * for multiplication, not x (which is a variable). To multiply 3 by y, type 3*y or just 3y (implicit multiplication works for variable-number pairs).

Division¶

Use / for division. Remember that / only applies to the immediately adjacent terms unless you add parentheses:

1/2*x → (1/2) * x = x/2 ✓
1/(2x) → 1 over 2x ✓
1/2x may be interpreted differently — use parentheses to be safe

Exponents¶

Use ^ for powers. Everything after ^ up to the next operator or space goes into the exponent:

x^2 → x²
x^(n+1) → x^(n+1), the whole expression n+1 is the exponent
x^n+1 → x^n + 1, not x^(n+1)

Square Roots¶

Type sqrt(expression) or use the palette. Make sure the full argument is inside the parentheses:

sqrt(x+1) ✓
sqrt x+1 → only x is under the radical ✗

Decimal vs. Fraction¶

If a question asks for an exact answer, enter a fraction (3/4) rather than a decimal (0.75). If it asks for a decimal, round only to the precision the question specifies.

Case Sensitivity¶

Variable names are case-sensitive in some questions. If the question uses X, typing x may not match. Follow the exact notation used in the problem.

Checking Your Answer Format¶

Read the question carefully — some questions specify: - "Enter an exact value" → use fractions, roots, π, e (not decimals) - "Round to 4 decimal places" → give exactly 4 decimal places - "Enter a percentage" → enter 75 not 0.75 or 75%