Complete the square for a quadratic polynomial $q(x)$ by writing it in the form $a(x+b)^2+c$.  Find both roots of the equation $q(x)=0$.

Solve for $x$: $\displaystyle ax ^ 2 + bx + c=0$.

Entering the correct roots in any order is marked as correct. However, entering one correct and the other incorrect gives feedback stating that both are incorrect.

A graph shows both the speed and acceleration of a car. Identify which line corresponds to which measurement, and calculate the acceleration during a portion of time.

This question tests the student's ability to solve simple linear equations by elimination. Part a) involves only having to manipulate one equation in order to solve, and part b) involves having to manipulate both equations in order to solve. 

Solve a simple linear equation algebraically. The unknown appears on both sides of the equation.

Given results from a survey about what people eat for breakfast, where some people eat one or both of cereal and toast. Student is asked to pick the probability of eating either one or the other from a list. Distractors pick out common errors.

Manipulate fractions in order to add and subtract them. The difficulty escalates through the inclusion of a whole integer and a decimal, which both need to be converted into a fraction before the addition/subtraction can take place. 

This question tests the student's ability to solve simple linear equations by elimination. Part a) involves only having to manipulate one equation in order to solve, and part b) involves having to manipulate both equations in order to solve. 

This question tests the student's ability to solve simple linear equations by elimination. Part a) involves only having to manipulate one equation in order to solve, and part b) involves having to manipulate both equations in order to solve. 

This is the question for week 9 of the MA100 course at the LSE. It looks at material from chapters 17 and 18.

Description of variables for part b:
For part b we want to have four functions such that the derivative of one of them, evaluated at 0, gives 0; but for the rest we do not get 0. We also want two of the ones that do not give 0, to be such that the derivative of their sum, evaluated at 0, gives 0; but when we do this for any other sum of two of our functions, we do not get 0. Ultimately this part of the question will show that even if two functions are not in a vector space (the space of functions with derivate equal to 0 when evaluated at 0), then their sum could nonetheless be in that vector space. We want variables which statisfy:

a,b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,m,n are variables satisfying

Function 1: x^2 + ax + b sin(cx)
Function 2: x^2 + dx + f sin(gx)
Function 3: x^2 + hx + j sin(kx)
Function 4: x^2 + lx + m sin(nx)

u,v,w,r are variables satifying
u=a+bc
v=d+fg
w=h+jk
r=l+mn

The derivatives of each function, evaluated at zero, are:
Function 1: u
Function 2: v
Function 3: w
Function 4: r

So we will define
u as random(-5..5 except(0))
v as -u
w as 0
r as random(-5..5 except(0) except(u) except(-u))

Then the derivative of function 3, evaluated at 0, gives 0. The other functions give non-zero.
Also, the derivative of function 1 + function 2 gives 0. The other combinations of two functions give nonzero.

We now take b,c,f,g,j,k,m,n to be defined as \random(-3..3 except(0)).
We then define a,d,h,l to satisfy
u=a+bc
v=d+fg
w=h+jk
r=l+mn

Description for variables of part e:

Please look at the description of each variable for part e in the variables section, first.
As described, the vectors V3_1 , V3_2 , V3_3 are linearly independent. We will simply write v1 , v2 , v3 here.
In part e we ask the student to determine which of the following sets span, are linearly independent, are both, are neither:

both: v1,v2,v3
span: v1,v1+v2,v1+v2+v3, v1+v2+v3,2*v1+v2+v3
lin ind: v1+v2+v3
neither: v2+v3 , 2*v2 + 2*v3
neither:v1+v3,v1-2*v3,2*v1-v3
neither: v1+v2,v1-v2,v1-2*v2,2*v1-v2

Given results from a survey about what people eat for breakfast, where some people eat one or both of cereal and toast. Student is asked to pick the probability of eating either one or the other from a list. Distractors pick out common errors.

This question tests the student's ability to solve simple linear equations by elimination. Part a) involves only having to manipulate one equation in order to solve, and part b) involves having to manipulate both equations in order to solve. 

Simple procedures are given and student is asked to carry them out or un-do them.

Version 1: bi and bii have the same answer. biii and biv both have two answers.

Version 2: bi and bii have different answers. biii has two answers, biv has one answer.

Version 3: bi and bii have different answer. biii has one answer, biv has two answers.

Version 4: bi and bii have the same answer. biii has one answer, biv has two answers.

Simple procedures are given and student is asked to carry them out or un-do them.

Version 1: i and ii have the same answer. iii and iv both have two answers.

Version 2: i and ii have different answers. iii has two answers,biv has one answer.

Version 3: i and ii have different answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Version 4: i and ii have the same answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Simple procedures are given and student is asked to carry them out or un-do them.

Version 1: i and ii have the same answer. iii and iv both have two answers.

Version 2: i and ii have different answers. iii has two answers,biv has one answer.

Version 3: i and ii have different answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Version 4: i and ii have the same answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Simple procedures are given and student is asked to carry them out or un-do them.

Version 1: i and ii have the same answer. iii and iv both have two answers.

Version 2: i and ii have different answers. iii has two answers,biv has one answer.

Version 3: i and ii have different answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Version 4: i and ii have the same answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Simple procedures are given and student is asked to carry them out or un-do them.

Version 1: i and ii have the same answer. iii and iv both have two answers.

Version 2: i and ii have different answers. iii has two answers,biv has one answer.

Version 3: i and ii have different answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Version 4: i and ii have the same answer. iii has one answer, iv has two answers.

Two numbers are drawn at random without replacement from the numbers m to n.

Find the probability that both are odd given their sum is even.

A set of MCQ designed to help Level 2 Engineering students prepare/practice for the on-line GOLA test that is used to assess the C&G 2850, Level 2 Engineering, Unit 202: Engineering Principles.

Straightforward question: student must find the general solution to a second order constant coefficient ODE. Uses custom marking algorithm to check that both roots appear and that the solution is in the correct form (e.g. two arbitrary constants are present). Arbitrary constants can be any non space-separated string of characters. The algorithm also allows for the use of $e^x$ rather than $\exp(x)$.

Unit tests are also included, to check whether the algorithm accurately marks when the solution is correct; when it's correct but deviates from the 'answer'; when one or more roots is incorrect; or when the roots are correct but constants of integration have been forgotten.

$A,\;B$ $2 \times 2$ matrices. Find eigenvalues and eigenvectors of both. Hence or otherwise, find $B^n$ for largish $n$.

A set of MCQ designed to help Level 2 Engineering students prepare/practice for the on-line GOLA test that is used to assess the C&G 2850, Level 2 Engineering, Unit 202: Engineering Principles.

Complete the square for a quadratic polynomial $q(x)$ by writing it in the form $a(x+b)^2+c$.  Find both roots of the equation $q(x)=0$.

An A-frame structure supporting a load at the top.  Simple because both legs are two force bodies.

An A-frame structure supporting a load at the top.  Simple because both legs are two force bodies.

A graph shows both the speed and acceleration of a car. Identify which line corresponds to which measurement, and calculate the acceleration during a portion of time.

A set of MCQ designed to help Level 2 Engineering students prepare/practice for the on-line GOLA test that is used to assess the C&G 2850, Level 2 Engineering, Unit 202: Engineering Principles.

A set of MCQ designed to help Level 2 Engineering students prepare/practice for the on-line GOLA test that is used to assess the C&G 2850, Level 2 Engineering, Unit 202: Engineering Principles.

Given results from a survey about what people eat for breakfast, where some people eat one or both of cereal and toast. Student is asked to pick the probability of eating either one or the other from a list. Distractors pick out common errors.

A set of MCQ designed to help Level 2 Engineering students prepare/practice for the on-line GOLA test that is used to assess the C&G 2850, Level 2 Engineering, Unit 202: Engineering Principles.