WebAssign at the University of Maryland Math
Department
WebAssign is an on-line homework system used in Math 112, 113, 115, 115B, 140,
140, 140H, 141, 141H, 220 and 221.
Please read through the directions below before logging into
WebAssign.
- Logging into the WebAssign system
-
Go to
http://www.webassign.net/umd/login.html
After clicking Log In you will be redirected to a UMD site for
authentication. Use your standard DirectoryID (the ??? part from
???@umd.edu) and standard password. You will then be sent back to
WebAssign, all logged in.
- Payment:
- There are two methods of payment: credit card, or at the
bookstore. You will see more information about this when you log on to
webassign. The cost is $17.95 per semester per course as of Fall 2010.
- Selecting an Assignment
- Once you have successfully logged in, you will see an
assignment list with information such as how many tries you have to
complete each problem and when the assignment is due.
- Select the assignment you want to work on.
- Question Types - Within WebAssign there are different
types of questions that can be asked, including Multiple Choice,
Numerical, and Symbolic. Each type of question should be handled
slightly differently.
- Mutiple
Choice
- Appearance: The question will be followed by a list of
possible solutions. Next to each will be a square containing a circle
called a radio button.
- Use: Radio buttons only allow you to select one
answer. If you try to select more than one, only the last answer you
select will be counted.
- Example: Problem 1 of the Assignment WA1.
- Multiple
Select
- Appearance: Like Multiple choice questions, Multiple Select
Questions will be followed by a list of possible answers. However, next
to each possible answer will be a square checkbox.
- Use: A checkbox allows you to choose more than one answer. To
get the problem correct you must check all of the correct
answers. If you check an answer and then decide this answer is not
correct, simply click on the box again and the check will disappear.
- Example: Problem 2 of the Assignment WA1.
- Numerical, Symbolic, and Fill-in-the-blank
- Appearance: Numerical, Symbolic, and Fill-in-the-Blank
questions will all appear the same on the screen. Somewhere within or
at the end of the problem, you will see a rectangular box.
- Use: Clicking in the box will allow you to enter your answer.
- How do I know the difference? If the question asks for an
answer which is a word, then this is a fill in the blank question. If
the question says that you may use
specific variables or constants within your answer, then it is a
symbolic question. Otherwise, it is a Numerical question.
- Things to keep in mind:
- Fill-in-the-Blanks are not case sensitive but be very careful
to enter the answer with the correct spelling.
- Symbolic questions are case sensitive. If the question
states that you may use the variable "t" if you use "T," then your
answer will graded as wrong.
- Numerical questions accept only numbers. You may not
use any type of variable or function within your answer.
- After answering all the questions, submit your assignment. Be
aware of the maximum number of times you can submit the assignment
(this may vary with the assignment).
- Formatting:
- Some of the symbols within the problems might look unusually
large or small compared to the text
- The equations seem to be wrapping around and becoming jumbled
and unreadable.
- The symbols within your assignments have been formatted to
match a reasonable text size. If your computer web browser is not set
to this
size you may have trouble reading the problems. To change this setting,
you must change the text size in your browser preferences. Here is how
you would do this in Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator:
- Internet Explorer
- Open the View menu at the top of the browser window.
- Select Text Size from this menu.
- Set the text size to Largest.
- Netscape Navigator
- Open the Edit menu at the top of the browser window.
- Select Preferences from this menu.
- Select Font within the window that opens.
- Set the Font Size to 18 (both variable and fixed width).
- Most of the problems within your assignments were created using
some sort of formatting table. If your browser window is too small,
this can cause the equations to line up improperly. To fix this, you
should maximize your window by clicking on the maximize button in the
top right hand corner of the window.
- Browser Troubleshooting
Cache - When a browser downloads a webpage it is stored in cache
files. If your browser doesn't seem to be showing current information
you should try to clear you browser cache. Here
are instructions on how to do this for various browsers.
Cookies - A cookie is data that a web site writes to your computer
when you go to their site. WebAssign requires you accept cookies from
their website here
are instructions on how to do this.
- More information: See the WebAssign Student Guide.
Math Department | Undergraduate