Definition
While you can add math features to any question type or answer choice using the + icon within the question and answer choices, the Numeric question type allows your students to respond using the same equation editor.
Add a Numeric question:
Click on the blue + button to open the 'Add Item' window
Choose "Numeric" from the Paid Questions list
Type your question
Set your answer key for auto-grading using the equation editor:
Tip: You can highlight text to make fractions, sub/superscripts and other formatting options. You can click the + sign next to your question to use our built-in equation editor within the question too.
There are many more functions you can create using the LaTeX math keyboard and calculator. Check out the list of supported functions here.
When an answer key is set, auto-grading will require the student's response to be exactly the same as the answer key, with the exception of extra spaces. Auto-grading will automatically ignore any extra spaces the student may have entered and they will have no affect on the score.
Integrated Calculator Experience (Paid Teacher / School & District feature)
Paid Teacher plan subscribers and members of School & District licensed organizations will have the option to turn on access to an integrated calculator for their students to use. Click here for full details!
Adjust question settings
Toggle on the question settings to your preference, you can also add hints for your students, and tag your question to standards.
Case Sensitive
when this is toggled on, auto-grading will only count the student's answer as correct if they provide an answer identical to your answer key, including usage of upper or lower letters.
Students will not be able to submit their work without providing an answer
Switch scoring method for this question from auto-grading to a rubric based grading.
Add a whiteboard style box for your students to showcase their work
Allow Partial Credit (Paid Teacher / School & District feature only)
Give point values to answers that are on the right track! This grading is designed to support your students' learning journey by encouraging and allowing more accurate feedback. Check mark this option, and then head back to your previously entered answer choices to fill out the point value you'd like to award to each one of them
NEW! Equivalencies
Numeric questions offer a smarter way to check answers and count equivalencies to the answer key as correct via auto-grading.
We know students show what they know in different ways. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Allow Equivalencies toggle — a flexible way to define what counts as “correct” when grading short answer or math questions.
This toggle gives you two smart options for evaluating answers, so you can match how your students think, write, or solve:
Option 1: Algebraic Equivalence
Perfect for Simplified Math Expressions & Equivalent Forms. Use this when you want Formative to check if a student’s answer is mathematically equivalent, even if it’s expressed differently. Best For: Algebra, fraction/decimal conversions, and any math questions where form may vary but meaning is the same.
Enter your simplified answer (e.g.,
x + 2)Turn on Allow Equivalencies
Choose Algebraic Equivalence
Formative will evaluate answers using algebraic logic — allowing reordering, equivalent expressions, fractions = decimals, and more.
Algebraic Example:
Question: Simplify the expression: (2x + 4)/2
Expected Answer: x + 2
Marked Correct:
2 + x(commutative property)(4 + 2x)/2(not simplified, but equivalent)
Marked Incorrect:
(2x + 4)/2(not simplified)x + 2 cm(units not allowed in Algebraic mode)
Fraction & Decimal Equivalence Example:
Question: How much is 1➗2 as a decimal?
Expected Answer: 0.5
Marked Correct:
1/2(equivalent fraction)0.50(equivalent decimal)
Marked Incorrect:
2/4(not simplified unless you accept it)1 out of 2(not mathematically equivalent format)
Option 2: Basic Partial Match
Great for units & basic numeric equivalencies. Best For: Science, real-world math problems, and anywhere different unit syntax is common.
Enter your expected answer (e.g.,
25 m/s)Turn on Allow Equivalencies
Choose Basic Partial Match
Formative will now accept alternative responses of basic numeric equivalencies and equivalent units, i.e. accepting different "Unit Syntax" (comparable units) as correct.
Basic Partial Match will compare the unit entered into your answer key with the unit entered by your student. If the two are equivalent, the student's answer will be marked as correct.
In order to be recognized by the unit system, an answer must be either
A number followed by a unit, or
A currency symbol followed by a number
A unit is either a single word like "meters" or "kg", or a combination of such words, like "m/s", "ft lbs", or even "meters per second squared". A table listing all equivalent unit syntax can be found listed below the examples.
Examples:
Question: What is the speed of an object moving 100 meters in 4 seconds?
Expected Answer: 25 m/s
Marked Correct:
25 meters per second25 meters/second25(if unit omission is acceptable)
Marked Incorrect:
25 s/m(incorrect unit order)25 mph(incorrect unit system)
Below you can find a table listing all equivalent unit syntax.
All units in the Alternatives column are treated as equivalent. For all SI units, additional prefixed entries are added for each SI prefix. That is, in addition to the "meter, meters, ..., m" row, you should imagine rows for "millimeter, millimeters, ..., mm", "centimeter, centimeters, ..., cm", ..., "kilometer, kilometers, ..., km", etc.
Proper pluralization is not enforced: "1 grams" is treated the same as "1 gram", and "2000 foot" is treated the same as "2000 feet".
Letter-case is ignored except when dealing with SI unit abbreviations, in which case it is significant. For instance, "milligrams", "Milligrams", and even "miLLiGRAms" are all treated as the same, but "mg" and "Mg" are not.
Alternatives | SI |
Distances |
|
meter, meters, metre, metres, m | yes |
kilometer, kilometers, kilometre, kilometres, km, kilos |
|
centimeter, centimeters, centimetre, centimetres, cm |
|
inch, inches, in |
|
foot, feet, ft |
|
yard, yards, yds, yd |
|
mile, miles, mi |
|
Mass, weight |
|
gram, grams, gramme, grammes, g | yes |
kilogram, kilograms, kilogramme, kilogrammes, kg |
|
pound, pounds, lbs, lb |
|
tons, tonne, tonnes, ton |
|
Duration, time |
|
second, seconds, s | yes |
minute, minutes, mins, min |
|
h, hrs, hour, hours, hr |
|
days, day |
|
weeks, week |
|
months, month |
|
years, year |
|
Volume |
|
L, liter, liters, litre, litres, l | yes |
ounce, ounces, oz |
|
cup, cups, cps, cp |
|
pint, pints, pts, pt |
|
quart, quarts, qts, qt |
|
gallon, gallons, gals, gal |
|
Temperature |
|
kelvin, K | yes |
celsius, degC |
|
fahrenheit, degF |
|
Quantity |
|
mole, moles, mol |
|
Force, energy, power |
|
newton, newtons, N | yes |
dyne, dynes, dyn |
|
joule, joules, J | yes |
watt, watts, W | yes |
horsepower, hp |
|
Pressure |
|
pascal, pascals, Pa | yes |
Misc. electricity and magnetism |
|
amp, amps, ampere, amperes, A | yes |
coulomb, coulombs, C | yes |
volt, volts, V | yes |
ohm, ohms, Ω | yes |
farad, farads, F | yes |
weber, webers, Wb | yes |
tesla, teslas, T | yes |
henry, henries, H | yes |
siemens, S | yes |
Currency |
|
dollars, dollar (or a prefix $) |
|
Geometry (and temperature) |
|
degrees, degree (or degree symbol) |
|
radian, radians, rad |
|
Troubleshooting
🙋🏻♀️ Numeric input is not displaying as expected when using the device's keyboard or the in-app keyboard. My students and/or I need to press the same symbol twice, or the symbols are not looking as they should
Please follow the steps below, in order of appearance. After each step check the numeric input again to see if resolved:
Verify the browser used is updated to the most recent version
Clear Cache & Cookies
Ensure all pop-up blockers, ad-blockers, or 3rd party blockers are disabled on the browser
Check installed extensions for possible interference and disable the culprit while using Formative. A common culprit is the Chrome extension 'Read&Write - if it's installed on the browser please disable it while using Formative.