ExamSoft includes the WIRIS/Math Type formula editor. Using this editor, you can create formulas and equations for any kind of content: mathematics, physics, and the sciences.
Note:
For detailed instructions, go to these resources on the Math Type help site:
Procedure
- Within the question toolbar, stem, or answer choice, select the Formula Editor button (square root symbol).
Enterprise Portal: Location of Formula Editor button in question stem and answer choices
Enterprise Portal: Location of Formula Editor button in toolbar
Legacy Portal: Location of Formula Editor button - At the top of the WIRIS editor, select the tab for the type of formula that you want to add.
Tip: To learn more about a tab, hover your mouse pointer over it.
- Create your equation by selecting buttons, typing characters, or using the touchscreen option (see the Tips below this procedure).
- When you're ready to insert your formula, select the Insert or Accept button (in the lower right corner of the editor).
Tips:
- For detailed information about the formula editor, select the Help button (in the top right corner of the toolbar).
- To learn more about a button, hover your mouse over it.
Example
- To use your touchscreen and/or mouse/keyboard to draw the formula, select the touchscreen button (on the right).
Within the touchscreen area, you can use these options:
- Select the Undo button if you make a mistake.
- Use the eraser icon to fix a small mistake.
- To reset the entire equation, select the trash can icon.
- To return to the default view, select the keyboard button (in the lower left corner).
For more information, see "Handwritten Input" article on the Math Type help site.
- To return to regular text after entering subscript or superscript, press the right-arrow key.
- To navigate between the layers of a fraction, use the up- and down-arrow keys.
- To find additional characters that are not shown on the General toolbar, select the Insert special characters button (next to the Italic button).
- If you need to edit a formula after inserting it, simply click on it to reopen the editor.
- For tips about using the formula editor with screen reader software, your keyboard, and other assistive technology, see the "Accessibility" article on the Math Type help site.
- For more help with the WIRIS editor, see the example section of this article or go to the Math Type WIRIS tutorials.
- For detailed information about the formula editor, select the Help button (in the top right corner of the toolbar).
Example
This example walks you through the steps to create a Multiple Choice question that includes formulas in the question stem and the answer choices.
Question Stem
As shown below, we want to use a formula within the question stem:
- Create a new Multiple Choice question.
- In the question stem area, select the Formula button.
- Use your keyboard to type the characters, spaces, and colon at the beginning of the equation.
- To enter the first Mu and the subscript 2:
- Select the Greek tab, and then select the Mu button.
- Select the General tab, and then select the Subscript button.
- Select the Greek tab, and then select the Mu button.
- Press the right-arrow key to move the cursor out of the subscript area.
- Type the equal-to symbol by using your keyboard.
- To enter the next Mu and subscript, simply copy and paste the first one, and then change the subscript number to 1.
- Press the right-arrow key, and then continue entering the equation.
- To enter the not-equal-to symbol:
- Select the Insert special characters button.
- Scroll about halfway down, and then select the not-equal-to button.
Tip: To find a symbol more easily, enter its decimal or hexadecimal code. You can look up these codes by using a resource such as UnicodeLookup.com.
- Finish entering the equation, and then select Insert.
Answer Choice A
For the first answer choice, we want to enter this equation:
- Select the Formula button for Answer Choice A.
- Use your keyboard to enter the letter t and the equal-to symbol.
- Select the Scripts and layout tab.
- Select the Big fraction button.
- Click in the numerator area, and use your keyboard to enter 68.5-65.
- To enter the fraction in the denominator:
- Click in the denominator area, and then select the Small fraction button.
- Enter the number 5.2 in the numerator.
- In the denominator, select the Square root button, and then enter 42.
- Click in the denominator area, and then select the Small fraction button.
- Press the right-arrow key until the cursor is on the right side of the big fraction and the cursor height matches the height of the big fraction.
- Use your keyboard to enter the rest of the equation.
- Finish entering the equation, and then select Insert.
Answer Choice B
For the second answer choice, we want to enter this equation:
- Since this answer is almost the same as Answer Choice A, copy Answer Choice A:
- Click on the formula in Answer Choice A to reopen the editor.
- Drag your mouse across the enter equation to select it, and then select the Copy button.
- Select Cancel to close Answer Choice A.
- Select the Formula button for Answer Choice B.
- Select the Paste button to paste the copied equation.
- Insert a minus sign to change 4.36 to -4.36, as shown in the example.
- Select Insert.
Answer Choice C
For the third answer choice, we want to enter this equation:
You can use your keyboard to type the letter and numbers. You'll find the Greater-than-or-equal-to button near the center of the toolbar on the General tab.
Answer Choice D
For the final answer choice, we want to enter this equation:
This example uses techniques that you learned in the previous examples. Use the Big fraction, Small fraction, and Square root buttons to enter the equation.
Tip: Use the arrow keys to navigate through the various levels of fractions.
- Up-Arrow: Move the cursor into the numerator.
- Down-Arrow: Move the cursor into the denominator.
- Left: Move the cursor to the left of the current object.
- Right: Move the cursor to the left of the current object.