Guide to the new Math Engine – Learnosity Author Guide

Overview

Learnosity’s new math scoring engine is used by the Math (clozeformulaV2), Multistep math (multistepmath), and Label image with math (imageclozeformulaV2) Question types. This guide outlines the key differences between the new math scoring engine and the scoring engine used by Question types such as Cloze math (clozeformula), focusing on authoring options, validation settings, and scoring behavior.

Improvements include:

More accurate evaluation of complex mathematical expressions.
More consistent handling of edge cases, particularly for the Literally equal to (equivLiteral) method.
Expanded support for advanced mathematical constructs such as integrals, derivatives, vectors, and matrices.
Clearer validation option labels to improve the authoring experience.

The sections below describe the updates by scoring method.

Decimal and thousands separators

Across all scoring methods, the configuration of decimal and thousands separators has been simplified.

In Cloze math, the decimal and thousands separator options were only available when the Allow decimal marks option was enabled. In new math, these settings are always available:

The decimal separator defaults to a dot (.).
No thousands separator is configured by default. It can be selected directly from dropdown menu for Thousands separator.

As a result, the Allow decimal marks option is no longer required.

Literally equal to (`equivLiteral`)

The default labels of options have been updated as follows:

Validation option	Label in Question types using the new math engine	Label in Question types using the previous scoring engine
`ignoreOrder`	Ignore addition and multiplication order	Ignore order
`ignoreTrailingZeros`	Ignore trailing zeros after decimal separator	Ignore trailing zeros
`ignoreCoefficientOne`	Ignore coefficient of 1	Ignore coefficient of 1
`compareGrouping`	Require all grouping symbols	Compare grouping
`allowInterval`	Allow interval notation	Allow interval
`inverseResult`	Exclude value specified in the Value field	Inverse result
`allowImplicitAndExp` `licitMultiplication`¹	Allow implicit and explicit multiplication	N/A

Negative fractions are treated as equivalent regardless of where the negative sign appears. For example, -1/2, 1/-2, and -(1/2) are considered equivalent.
Parentheses used to denote multiplication between constants and variables are supported. For example, 2(x) is considered equivalent to 2x.
When Ignore coefficient of 1 is enabled, answers such as +1x and 1(x) are considered equivalent to x.

Symbolically equal to (`equivSymbolic`)

The default labels of options have been updated as follows:

Validation option	Label in Question types using the new math engine	Label in Question types using the previous scoring engine
`ignoreText`	Ignore LaTex text	Ignore text
`treatLettersAsVariables`	Treat all letters as variables instead of units of measurement	Treat all letters as variables
`compareSides`	Compare corresponding sides of an equation	Compare sides
`allowEulersNumber`	Treat “e” as Euler’s number instead of scientific notation	Treat "e" as Euler’s number
`allowInterval`	Allow interval notation	Allow interval
`decimalPlaces`	Decimal rounding	Significant decimal places
`allowAntiDerivative`	Allow equivalent antiderivative	N/A

Expressions involving the following mathematical constructs are evaluated more accurately and consistently:

Integrals
Derivatives
Vectors
Matrices

Numerically equal to (`equivValue`)

The default labels of options have been updated as follows:

Validation option	Label in Question types using the new math engine	Label in Question types using the previous scoring engine
`ignoreText`	Ignore LaTex text	Ignore text
`compareSides`	Compare corresponding sides of an equation	Compare sides
`decimalPlaces`	Decimal rounding	Significant decimal places
`tolerance: range`	Tolerance: Range between	N/A
`tolerance: absError`	Tolerance: Absolute error	N/A
`tolerance: percentage`	Tolerance: Percent error	N/A
`isUnit`	Accept only specific units	isUnit (as a method)

Tolerance can still be specified directly in the Value field. In addition, the Tolerance dropdown provides three configuration options:

Range between
Absolute error
Percent error

For more information, see the Numerically equal to (equivValue) article.

The new math Question types also supports:

Newtons (N)
Joules (J)
Compound units

For a complete list of supported units, see the List of supported units.

Formatted as (`equivSyntax`)

The default labels of options have been updated as follows:

Validation option	Label in Question types using the new math engine	Label in Question types using the previous scoring engine
`ignoreText`	Ignore LaTeX text	Ignore text
`syntax`	Form	Rule
`setDecimalSeparator`	Decimal separator	N/A
`setThousandsSeparator`	Thousands separator	N/A
`argument`	- Decimal places - Significant figures - N/A	Argument

Non-standard mixed fraction notation is accepted, reducing the likelihood of learners being penalized for valid formatting variations.

Additional information

The new math Question types are scored asynchronously. For more information, see article on asynchronous scoring.

1. Note: Allow implicit and explicit multiplication is a newer option. Version added: v2026.2.LTS

Overview

Decimal and thousands separators

Literally equal to (equivLiteral)

Symbolically equal to (equivSymbolic)

Numerically equal to (equivValue)

Formatted as (equivSyntax)

Additional information

Related articles

Literally equal to (`equivLiteral`)

Symbolically equal to (`equivSymbolic`)

Numerically equal to (`equivValue`)

Formatted as (`equivSyntax`)