Require simplified answers in a fraction addition question

In this tutorial, you'll build on the previous fraction addition question and learn how to require answers in simplified form.

Outcome: By the end of this tutorial, you will create a fraction addition question in LearningLemur that will only accept answers written as simplified fractions.

Before you begin

Prerequisites 

• You should be comfortable working with basic fractions and have access to a LearningLemur-enabled course.

Requirements

• A teacher account with permission to create questions in LearningLemur, accessed through learninglemur.com or your LMS.

Step 0 — Create a Quiz

Why: LearningLemur organises all questions inside quizzes, so creating a quiz first provides the workspace where you will add and manage your questions.

1. Click on Create new quiz
2. Enter the Quiz Title
3. (Optional) Add a description to the quiz
4. Click on Create

Checkpoint: You should now see the quiz workspace with options to add questions.

Step 1 — Add a new question

Why: LearningLemur allows you to create questions either manually or with the help of AI. In this tutorial, we will create the question manually to understand how the editor works.

1. Inside the quiz, click Add question
2. In the creation dialog, choose Manually
3. Select the Open answer question

This question type allows students to enter a mathematical expression using the math editor.

Checkpoint: You should see the Open Answer question editor, including fields for the title, statement, and answers.

Step 2 — Write the question statement

Why: The statement explains the problem students must solve.

1. Enter a Question title, for example: Sum of two fractions: simplified answer
2. In the Question statement, write the exercise text

You can use the MathType editor to format fractions using mathematical notation.

Checkpoint: Your question should now display the fraction expression inside the statement area.

Step 3 — Define the correct answer

Why: LearningLemur needs to know the expected solution in order to evaluate student responses.

1. Scroll to the Answers section
2. In the first answer field, enter the correct answer
3. Mark this answer as a Correct answer

LearningLemur will compare student responses with this expression using the mathematical evaluation engine.

Checkpoint: You should see the answer marked as a correct answer (100%).

Step 4 — Require a simplified answer

Why: By default, LearningLemur accepts mathematically equivalent expressions such as 6/4 and 3/2. In this tutorial, we will require students to provide the simplified fraction.

1. Click Edit in the Evaluation options section
2. Ensure Mathematically equal is selected
3. In the Answer settings, enable Simplified

This setting ensures that the expression cannot be further simplified. For example:

If you want to reject decimal answers, disable the Allow decimal numbers option in the evaluation settings.

 

Checkpoint: The evaluation summary should indicate that Simplified answers are required.

Step 5 — Preview the question

Why: Previewing allows you to test the question exactly as students will see it.

1. Click Preview question
2. Test different answers, such as:
   1. 6/4
   2. 3/2
3. Check that:
   1. 6/4 is marked incorrect
   2. 3/2 is marked correct

Checkpoint: The system should mark correct results as correct.

You're done

You have learned how to restrict answer validation so that only simplified fractions are accepted. You now know how to:

• Configure mathematical evaluation rules
• Enforce simplified answers
• Test validation using preview

Next, you can continue learning with the following tutorials:

• Create a randomized fraction addition question
• Configure partial scoring for units

Troubleshooting

A correct fraction is marked as incorrect

Check that the evaluation option is set to Mathematically equal, not Literally equal.

An equivalent fraction, such as 6/4 is still accepted

Check that the Simplified option is enabled in the evaluation settings.

A decimal answer is accepted

If you want to accept only fractional answers, disable the Allow decimal numbers option in the evaluation settings.