About MyOpenMath

MyOpenMath

This course uses an online problem generating program called MyOpenMath. The MyOpenMath Orientation problem set will walk you through the notations needed to enter answers, as well as to generally familiarize yourself with the program. Thus, even though set does not count toward the overall grade in the class, I encourage you all to go through the MyOpenMath Orientation problem set.

The MyOpenMath sets are collections of problems with randomly generated numbers. You should do as many problems as you can (yes, ideally all of them) before the deadline. As you submit your answers, MyOpenMath gives you instant feedback. Thus, you will immediately know if your answer is correct or not.

By design, the problems in each MyOpenMath set do not go in the same order as the lessons presented. (See the "Practice" problems for each section in order to get only problems whose concepts were discussed in that particular section.)

Since the problems are mixed throughout the MyOpenMath set, you may come to a problem that you are not prepared to work, yet. If you find several problems that you are unable to work, then you are to go back to the lessons and study some more material.

I encourage you to work some problems on the MyOpenMath sets every day rather than wait until close to the deadline. In addition, do not wait until close to the deadline to try and enter all the answers to the MyOpenMath sets. This is because you need to time to figure out why, and how to correct, any problems that were marked incorrect.

Each MyOpenMath problem has a "Preview" button and a "Submit" button. The "Preview" button can be used to show you what your answer looks like before submitting it. This can be useful to make sure you have, for example, put parentheses in the right place. This button will give you an image of what you typed in for the answer that is similar to what you would write on paper.

The "Submit" button does what it says. It will submit your answer and then let you know if your answer is correct or not. Your answer could be counted as incorrect for a few reasons:

1) The answer is actually incorrect. (This happens more often than not.)

2) The answer does not use the correct notation. For example: there is a difference between x+3/x-5 and (x+3)/(x-5). In mathematics, it is important to be precise in what you are stating. MyOpenMath forces us to use precise notation. This can be frustrating at times, but it is important. In MyOpenMath, I expect you to use proper notation to express the mathematics precisely. Use the "Preview" button to "see" how what you entered looks like on paper. (This happens frequently until an understanding of how to enter the proper notation becomes more consistent.)

3) A programming error. Despite the best efforts of many people, errors do occur in programming. Since the numbers are randomly generated, there could be an oversight which will give numbers in a problem that can cause an error. (This happens rarely.)

If you get a problem marked incorrect, it is important to figure out why. It will do you no good to try and guess the answer, or to just keep entering numbers until you get the problem marked correct. Go back and rework the problem. After an honest attempt, or attempts, at solving the problem, if you still don't know why MyOpenMath is counting the problem as incorrect, then post to the Forums by selecting the appropriate folder ("part1" for questions regarding MyOpenMath 1, "part2" for questions regarding MyOpenMath 2, etc.), and stating the particular MyOpenMath set that contains the problem. Then, in order to get feedback from others, give the problem number, and your approach to tackling the problem.

Once a deadline date for a MyOpenMath set has passed, the set will be available for review.