How to randomly choose from different functions

[jmtrik]

You can create algorithmic variables that allow you generate a random questions every time the questions is opened.

In the algorithm

# choose between three trigonometric functions

$a=rint(5) + 1; # generates a number from 1 to 5
$b=switch(rint(3),"sin(x)","cos(x)","tan(x)");
$TA = $a + $b;  

In this example we would generate expressions like \(2 + sin(x) \) or \( 1+ tan(x) \). We have done this using the Maple TA switch statement. The first element of the switch statement is the element in the list you want to extract ( starting from 0). I our case 0=sin(x), 1= cos(x) and 2 = tan(x).

Note: Certain assignment policies stop new versions of the question being created. See http://www.maplesoft.com/support/help/MapleTA2016/... for more details about reusing algorithmic variables.