This section gives guidance on the procedure, syntax, etc of answering questions in edX.
**What's on a question page:**{#QP}
1. Title/Points: There's a title at the top telling you the name of the question and how many points the question is worth.
2. Text and (sometimes) images describing the question(s). *Note* that a single question page may require answer to multiple sub-questions.
3. A section for your answers. This can be either multiple choice with radio buttons (small circles), multiple choice with a pull-down menu, a box to enter a number, or a box to enter an equation. You can tell the difference between the last two because the former is just a single box while the latter has an additional grey box below it.
4. A "Check" or "Final Check" button and (sometimes) a "Save" button.
5. If the number of times you can answer a question is limited, there will be text next to the buttons listed in item 4 indicating how many times you can answer and how many of those attempts you have used. If you have *only one* chance left, the "Check" button changes to "Final Check".
**What's the difference between *entering* answers and *submitting* answers:**{#EntSubDiff} *Entering* an answer means selecting one of the multiple choice options or typing something into a box. *Submitting* an answer means telling the system that you have finished *entering* all of your answers by clicking "Check" (or "Final Check" if you have only one attempt left).
**How do I *enter* my answer:**{#Enter}
1. Radio buttons (small circles with numbers or text next to them): Click on the appropriate radio button. To change your answer, click on a different botton. To "erase" your choice and start over, you need to open some other page.
2. Pull-down menu: Click-and-hold on the blue box with up/down arrows, move to the answer you want, and release the mouse button.
3. Number boxes: If there is no additional grey box below the answer box, you can enter a number or a numerical formula, for example (1/2) * 9.81 * 2.5^(-2) , with **no blank spaces** and **no letters** for units. The number is assumed to be in the units listed in the question text. Note that you can also use scientific notation, for example 6.67*10^(-11), but **note** the use of () for the exponent! The system also recognizes "pi". The computer grading algorithm does not know about significant figures so you don't need to worry. Make sure to include enough that your answer is correct to a few %. Note that in many cases, combining two answers which are correct to the required precision (~few %) **will not** necessarily give a new answer to the required precision (for example, subtracting two big numbers to get one small one).
Do **not** use a comma for decimals, use a full stop - 3.142 **not** 3,142
4. Formula boxes: If there is an additional grey box below the answer box, the program might expect a formula or it *might* expect a number, for example 0. Type in the formula for the answer. The system also recognizes "pi". The grey box underneath the answer box will show how the program is interpreting what you have typed. There is more information on how to correctly type in formulas [here](#Syntax).
5. Drag and drop: If you see a formula with things missing and options to fill the missing pieces below, simply drag the correct pieces into place to input your answer.
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**How do I save my answer:**{#SaveAns} If you see a "Save" button, you can use that. When you come back to the page, whatever answers you already entered will still be there. If you don't see a "Save" button, your one option, is to use up one of your attempts by selecting "Check". This is obviously *not* a good choice if you only have one attempt left. But, if you have many (or unlimited) chances, the only down side is seeing the ugly red Xs on the ones you have not answered. When you return to the page, what you have *submitted* already will still be there.
Other options include leaving your browser open and hibernating your machine for the time being or copying your answers into a text file and saving that someplace.
**How many times can I answer a question:
**{#Attempts} See item 5 under "What's on a question page" [above](#QP).
How to Enter Formulas{#Syntax}
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You can type in formulas exactly as you would enter them into a computer program. However, there are a number of **very strict** requirements. We **strongly** encourage you to use the [Example Entry Problem](/courses/MITx/8.EFTx/3T2014/courseware/intro/hw0/) to get experience with the different types of answers.
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