WeBWorK Login
Follow this link to log into WebWork.
Your user name for WebWork is the first part of your UCSD e-mail address before the @ symbol. Your initial password is your UCSD PID (including the capital A in front). You should change it right away to something secure.
If you added the course after I uploaded the class list to WebWork (on August 2), then you will not be able to log into WebWork until I add you to the class list. Just email me from your UCSD email and I will add you to the course.
WeBWorK syntax
The following is a list of accepted WebWork functions. It might be a good idea to print out this page and keep the hard copy handy while doing WeBWorK. (This list was borrowed from the Department of Mathematics at Colorado State University.)
Mathematical Symbols Available In WeBWorK
+ |
Addition |
- |
Subtraction |
* |
Multiplication can also be indicated by a space or juxtaposition, e.g. 2x, 2 x or 2*x, also 2(3+4). |
/ |
Division |
^ or ** |
You can use either ^ or ** for exponentiation, e.g. 3^2 or 3**2 |
( and ) |
You can also use square brackets, [ ], and braces, { }, for grouping, e.g. [1+2]/[3(4+5)] |
WeBWorK is case sensitive. Do NOT write "X" when you really intend "x".
Syntax for entering expressions
- Be careful entering expressions just as you would be
careful entering expressions in a calculator.
- Sometimes using the * symbol to indicate
multiplication makes things easier to read. For example
(1+2)*(3+4) and (1+2)(3+4) are both valid. So are 3*4 and
3 4 (3 space 4, not 34) but using a * makes things more
clear.
- Use ('s and )'s to make your meaning clear. You can
also use ['s and ]'s and {'s and }'s.
- Don't enter 2/4+5 (which is 5.5) when you really want
2/(4+5) (which is 2/9).
- Don't enter 2/3*4 (which is 8/3) when you really want
2/(3*4) (which is 2/12).
- Entering big quotients with square brackets, e.g.
[1+2+3+4]/[5+6+7+8], is a good practice.
- Be careful when entering functions. It's always good
practice to use parentheses when entering functions.
Write sin(t) instead of sint or sin t. But WeBWorK is
smart enough to accept sin t or even sint. But sin 2t is
really sin(2)t, i.e. (sin(2))*t. Be careful.
- Do NOT use the notation sin^-1(x), tan^-1(x), etc.
for inverse trig functions -- WeBWorK does not understand
it. Use the alternative notation arcsin(x), arctan(x),
etc., or the shorter forms of this: asin(x), atan(x),
etc. See the list below of function notations understood
by WeBWorK.
- Understand that sin^2t is really shorthand for
(sin(t))^2 and must be entered this way. Actually you
could enter it as sin(t)^2 or even sint^2, but don't try
such things unless you really understand the precedence
of operations. For example 2+3sin^2(4x) is wrong. You
need to enter something like: 2+3(sin(4x))^2 or
2+3sin(4x)^2. Why does the last expression work? Because
things in parentheses are always done first [ i.e. (4x)],
next all functions, such as sin, are evaluated [giving
sin(4x)], next all exponents are taken [giving
sin(4x)^2], next all multiplications and divisions are
performed [giving 3sin(4x)^2], and finally all additions
and subtractions are performed [giving
2+3sin(4x)^2].
- The complete rules for the precedence of operations,
in addition to the above, are
- Multiplications and divisions are performed left
to right: 2/3*4 = (2/3)*4 = 8/3.
- Additions and subtractions are performed left to
right: 1-2+3 = (1-2)+3 = 2.
- Exponents are taken right to left: 2^3^4 =
2^(3^4) = 2^81 = a big number.
- Use the "Preview Button" to see exactly how your
entry looks. E.g. to tell the difference between 1+2/3+4
and [1+2]/[3+4] click the "Preview Button".
- Do not use exclamation points to denote factorials.
WeBWorK does not understand things like 3! -- use fact(3)
to denote 3 factorial.
Mathematical Constants Available In WeBWorK
- pi This gives 3.14159265358979, e.g. cos(pi) is -1.
Do NOT write Pi or PI.
- e This gives 2.71828182845905, e.g. ln(e*2) is 1 +
ln(2).
Scientific Notation Available In WeBWorK
- 2.1E2 gives 210
- 2.1E-2 gives .021
Mathematical Functions Available In WeBWorK
- abs( )
- The absolute value
- sqrt( )
- The positive square root
- cos( )
- Note: cos( ) uses radian measure
- sin( )
- Note: sin( ) uses radian measure
- tan( )
- Note: tan( ) uses radian measure
- sec( )
- Note: sec( ) uses radian measure
- exp( )
- The same function as e^x
- log( )
- The natural log
- ln( )
- Another name for the natural log
- logten( )
- The log to the base 10
- arcsin( )
- sin-1 will not be accepted.
- asin( )
- Another name for arcsin
- arccos( )
- acos( )
- Another name for arccos
- arctan( )
- atan( )
- Another name for arctan
- sinh( )
- cosh( )
- tanh( )
- sech( )
- asinh()
- acosh()
- atanh()
- asech()
- sgn( )
- The sign function, either -1, 0, or 1
- step( )
- The step function (0 if x < 0, 1 if x >=0)
- fact( )
- The factorial function (defined only for non negative
integers)