Create an open-answer fraction addition question

In this tutorial, you'll create a simple fraction addition question to learn how open-answer questions and mathematical evaluation work in LearningLemur.

Outcome: By the end of this tutorial, you will have created a question where students must compute the sum of two fractions, and LearningLemur evaluates the answer mathematically.

Learning Path: This tutorial is part of a sequence designed to help you progressively build more advanced questions:

1. Create an open-answer fraction addition question (this tutorial)
2. Require simplified answers in a fraction addition question
3. Create a randomized fraction addition question
4. Create a right-triangle hypotenuse question with units
5. Create a randomized right-triangle question with tolerance
6. Create partial scoring when units are missing

Before you begin

Prerequisites 

• You should be comfortable working with basic fractions

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
2. In the Question statement, write the exercise text

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

Checkpoint: The 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 — Configure the evaluation

Why: Evaluation options determine how student answers are compared with the correct solution.

1. Click Edit in the Evaluation options section
2. Ensure Mathematically equal is selected

This allows LearningLemur to accept equivalent expressions. For example, the following answers will be considered correct:

Checkpoint: The evaluation summary should display something similar to:

Step 5 — Preview the question

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

1. Click Preview question
2. Try entering several answers, such as:
   1. 6/4
   2. 3/2
3. Verify that correct answers are accepted

Checkpoint: The system should mark correct results as correct.

You're done

You have created your first open-answer math question in LearningLemur. You learned how to:

• Create a question inside a quiz
• Define a mathematical answer rule
• Test the evaluation using the preview mode

Next, you can continue learning with the following tutorials:

• Require simplified answers in a fraction addition question
• Create a randomized fraction addition question

Troubleshooting

Correct answers are marked as incorrect

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