1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
|
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN">
<!--Converted with LaTeX2HTML 2002-2-1 (1.70)
original version by: Nikos Drakos, CBLU, University of Leeds
* revised and updated by: Marcus Hennecke, Ross Moore, Herb Swan
* with significant contributions from:
Jens Lippmann, Marek Rouchal, Martin Wilck and others -->
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>probsoln.sty v2.02: LATEX2e Package to help create problem sheets</TITLE>
<META NAME="description" CONTENT="probsoln.sty v2.02: LATEX2e Package to help create problem sheets">
<META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="manual">
<META NAME="resource-type" CONTENT="document">
<META NAME="distribution" CONTENT="global">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="LaTeX2HTML v2002-2-1">
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Style-Type" CONTENT="text/css">
</HEAD>
<BODY >
<A NAME="tex2html1"
HREF="http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/">Dr Nicola Talbot</A>
|
<A NAME="tex2html2"
HREF="http://www.cmp.uea.ac.uk/">School of Computing Sciences</A>
|
<A NAME="tex2html3"
HREF="http://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</A>
<P>
<H1 ALIGN="CENTER">probsoln.sty v2.02: L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X2<SUB>e</SUB> Package to help create problem sheets</H1>
<DIV>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><STRONG>Nicola L.C. Talbot</STRONG></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><STRONG>2nd March 2006</STRONG></P>
</DIV>
<BR>
<H2><A NAME="SECTION00010000000000000000">
Contents</A>
</H2>
<!--Table of Contents-->
<UL>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html21"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00020000000000000000">Introduction</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html22"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00030000000000000000">Package Options</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html23"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00040000000000000000">Creating a New Problem</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html24"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00050000000000000000">Creating a Database</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html25"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00060000000000000000">Displaying a Problem</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html26"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00070000000000000000">Selecting All Problems</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html27"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00080000000000000000">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html28"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION00090000000000000000">Other Commands</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html29"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION000100000000000000000">Troubleshooting</A>
<UL>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html30"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION000101000000000000000">Unexpected Output</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html31"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION000102000000000000000">Error Messages</A>
</UL>
<BR>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html32"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION000110000000000000000">Contact Details</A>
<LI><A NAME="tex2html33"
HREF="manual.html#SECTION000120000000000000000">Index</A>
</UL>
<!--End of Table of Contents-->
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00020000000000000000">
Introduction</A>
</H1>
The <TT>probsoln</TT> package is designed for teachers or
lecturers who want to create problem sheets for their
students. This package was designed with specifically
mathematics problems in mind, but can be used for other
subjects as well. The idea is to create a file containing a
large number of problems with their solutions which can be
read in by L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X, and then select a number of problems to
typeset. This means that once the database has been set up,
each year you can easily create a new problem sheet that is
sufficiently different from the previous year, thus
preventing the temptation of current students seeking out
the previous year's students, and checking out their
answers. There is also an option that can be passed to the
package to determine whether or not the solutions should be
printed. In this way, one file can either produce the
student's version or the teacher's version.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00030000000000000000">
Package Options</A>
</H1>
The following options may be passed to this package:
<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
<TABLE CELLPADDING=3>
<TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT"><TT></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT">answers </TT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="LEFT">Show the answers</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT"><TT></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT">noanswers </TT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="LEFT">Don't show the answers (default)</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00040000000000000000">
Creating a New Problem</A>
</H1>
<A NAME="newproblem"></A><TT>\newproblem</TT><A NAME="393"></A><code>[</code><I>nargs</I><code>]{</code><I>label</I><code>}{</code><I>problem</I><code>}{</code><I>solution</I><code>}</code>
<BR>
<BR>
A new problem is defined using the command
<TT>\newproblem</TT><A NAME="397"></A>. This does not print anything,
but merely stores the problem. The argument <I>label</I> is
a unique string that is assigned to this problem so that it
can be used later. The argument <I>problem</I> is normal
L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X code that should be used to typeset the problem.
The argument <I>solution</I> is normal L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X code that
should be used to typeset the solution, if required. For
example, the following defines a problem with the label
<A NAME="quaddiff"></A><TT>quaddiff</TT>:
<PRE>
\newproblem{quaddiff}{%
%This is the problem
\begin{displaymath}
f(x) = x^2 + 3x + 4
\end{displaymath}
}{%
%This is the solution
\begin{displaymath}
f'(x) = 2x + 3
\end{displaymath}
}
</PRE>
<P>
The optional argument <I>nargs</I> specifies the number of
parameters this problem will take. By default this value is
0, but any value from 1 to 9 may be used. Each parameter is
referred to by <code>#1</code>, <code>#2</code>, ..., <code>#9</code>.
For example, the following problem, labelled <A NAME="sindiff"></A><TT>sindiff</TT>,
takes one parameter:
<PRE>
\newproblem[1]{sindiff}{%
\(f(x) = \sin(#1x)\)
}{%
\(f'(x) = #1\cos(#1x)\)
}
</PRE>
<P>
The <A HREF="#quaddiff"><TT>quaddiff</TT></A> problem shown above can be made more
generic by using parameters<A NAME="diff:quad"></A>:
<PRE>
\newcount\ctr
\newproblem[3]{diff:quad}{%
\(f(x) =
\ifnum#1=0
\else
\ifnum#1=1\else#1\fi x^2
\fi
\ifnum#2=0
\else
\ifnum#2>0 \ifnum#1=0 \else + \fi \fi
\ifnum#2=1\else#2\fi x
\fi
\ifnum#3=0
\else
\ifnum#3>0 \ifnum#2=0 \ifnum#1=0 \else + \fi \else + \fi\fi
#3
\fi\)
}{%
\(f'(x) =
\ifnum#1=0
\else
\ctr=2
\multiply\ctr by #1
\the\ctr x
\fi
\ifnum#2=0
\else
\ifnum#2>0 \ifnum#1=0 \else + \fi \fi
#2
\fi
% print 0 if both #1 and #2 are 0
\ifnum#1=0 \ifnum#2=0 0 \fi\fi
\)
}
</PRE>
The three parameters correspond to the coefficients. Note
that they must all be integers since T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X only performs
integer arithmetic.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00050000000000000000">
Creating a Database</A>
</H1>
<P>
To generate a database, simply create a <TT>.tex</TT> file
where all the problems are defined using <A HREF="#newproblem"><TT>\newproblem</TT><A NAME="412"></A></A>,
and either <TT>\input</TT><A NAME="416"></A> it at the start of your document if
you want to use <A HREF="#sec:useprob">specific problems</A>, or pass it to
<A HREF="#sec:selran"><TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="424"></A></A>. This package
comes with some sample databases, along with some sample documents
that use these databases.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00060000000000000000"></A>
<A NAME="sec:useprob"></A>
<BR>
Displaying a Problem
</H1>
<A NAME="useproblem"></A><TT>\useproblem</TT><A NAME="429"></A><code>{</code><I>label</I><code>}</code>
<BR>
<BR>
Once a problem has been defined using <A HREF="#newproblem"><TT>\newproblem</TT><A NAME="435"></A></A>, it
can be typeset using the command <TT>\useproblem</TT><A NAME="439"></A>. If the
problem was defined to take arguments, the arguments to the
problem should come after the label. In the case of the
<A HREF="#sindiff"><TT>sindiff</TT></A> example above, the command
<code>\useproblem{sindiff}{2}</code> would produce the following:
<BR>
<BR> <I>f</I>(<I>x</I>) = sin(2<I>x</I>)
<H4><A NAME="SECTION00060010000000000000">
Solution:</A>
</H4> <I>f'</I>(<I>x</I>) = 2cos(2<I>x</I>)
<BR>
<BR>
whereas the command <code>\useproblem{diff:quad}{3}{0}{-2}</code> would produce:
<BR>
<BR> <I>f</I>(<I>x</I>) = 3<I>x</I><SUP>2</SUP> - 2
<H4><A NAME="SECTION00060020000000000000">
Solution:</A>
</H4> <I>f'</I>(<I>x</I>) = 6<I>x</I>
<BR>
<BR>
<P>
Suppose all the above problems are defined in the file
<TT>probs.tex</TT>, then the following code will create a
problem sheet with four questions in it:
<PRE>
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{probsoln}
\input{probs}
\begin{document}
Differentiate the following functions with respect to $x$:
\begin{enumerate}
\item \useproblem{quaddiff}
\item \useproblem{sindiff}{4}
\item \useproblem{diff:quad}{2}{3}{1}
\item \useproblem{diff:quad}{0}{1}{2}
\end{enumerate}
\end{document}
</PRE>
The answer sheet can then be generated by passing the option
<TT>answers</TT> to the <TT>probsoln</TT> package.
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00070000000000000000">
Selecting All Problems</A>
</H1>
<P>
To select all problems defined in a database, in the order in
which they were defined, use the command:
<A NAME="selectallproblems"></A><TT>\selectallproblems</TT><A NAME="447"></A><code>{</code><I>filename</I><code>}</code>
For example, suppose the problems are defined in the file
<TT>easy.tex</TT>, then the following will create a problem sheet
which uses all these problems:
<PRE>
\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{probsoln}
\begin{document}
Differentiate the following functions:
\begin{enumerate}
\selectallproblems{easy}
\end{enumerate}
\end{document}
</PRE>
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00080000000000000000"></A>
<A NAME="sec:selran"></A>
<BR>
Selecting Problems at Random
</H1>
<A NAME="selectrandomly"></A><TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="452"></A><code>{</code><I>filename</I><code>}{</code><I>n</I><code>}</code>
<BR>
<BR>
The command <TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="456"></A> will select <I>n</I>
problems that are defined in the file <I>filename</I>. Each
problem is proceeded by
<A NAME="PSitem"></A><TT>\PSitem</TT><A NAME="461"></A> which is
defined to be <TT>\item</TT><A NAME="465"></A>, so the command
<TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="469"></A> should occur within one of the
list-like environments, such as <TT>enumerate</TT>.
For example:
<PRE>
\begin{enumerate}
\selectrandomly{easy.tex}{4}
\end{enumerate}
</PRE>
will result in four numbered problems, selected at random
from the file <TT>easy.tex</TT>. (The <TT>.tex</TT> extension
may be omitted.) Each problem is followed by the command
<A NAME="endPSNitem"></A><TT>\endPSNitem</TT><A NAME="474"></A> which by default does nothing.
<P>
Multiple <TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="478"></A> commands may be used, however a
different file must be used each time. For
example:
<PRE>
\begin{enumerate}
\item Differentiate the following functions with respect to $x$:
\begin{enumerate}
\selectrandomly{samples/easy.tex}{3}
\selectrandomly{samples/args.tex}{1}
\end{enumerate}
\selectrandomly{samples/implicit.tex}{1}
\selectrandomly{samples/1stprncpl.tex}{1}
\end{enumerate}
</PRE>
This will result in a total of 6 problems, numbered 1(a),
1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 2 and 3.
<P>
If a randomly selected problem requires arguments, a message
similar to the following will be displayed:
<PRE>
Problem diff:quad requires 3 argument(s), please specify (e.g. {5}{3}):
</PRE>
Enter the required arguments, where each argument is
enclosed in braces ({ }).
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00090000000000000000">
Other Commands</A>
</H1>
The command <A NAME="PSNrandseed"></A><TT>\PSNrandseed</TT><A NAME="483"></A><code>{</code><I>n</I><code>}</code> specifies
the seed for the random number generator. For example,
if you are using <A HREF="#selectrandomly"><TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="489"></A></A>,
<code>\PSNrandseed{\year}</code> will produce a different set of
problems each year, whereas <code>\PSNrandseed{\time}</code>
will produce a different set of problems each time you
L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X the problem sheet (as long as you leave at least a
minute between runs.)
<P>
The command <A NAME="random"></A><TT>\random</TT><A NAME="494"></A><code>{</code><I>counter</I><code>}{</code><I>a</I><code>}{</code><I>b</I><code>}</code>
generates a random number from <I>a</I> to <I>b</I> and
stores it in the L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X counter <I>counter</I>. For example,
to select 2, 3 or 4 problems from the file
<TT>implicit.tex</TT>:
<PRE>
\newcounter{numproblems}
\begin{enumerate}
\random{numproblems}{2}{4}
\selectrandomly{implicit.tex}{\value{numproblems}}
\end{enumerate}
</PRE>
(Note the use of <TT>\value</TT><A NAME="498"></A>.)
<P>
This command can also be used to generate random values for
problems that take arguments. Consider the problem <A HREF="#diff:quad"><TT>diff:quad</TT></A>
defined earlier. Three counters can be defined to represent the
three coefficients:
<PRE>
\newcounter{A}
\newcounter{B}
\newcounter{C}
</PRE>
Random values can now be assigned to these counters:
<PRE>
\random{A}{-5}{5}
\random{B}{-5}{5}
\random{C}{-5}{5}
</PRE>
Finally, the problem can be used (note the use of <TT>\arabic</TT><A NAME="505"></A>):
<PRE>
\useproblem{diff:quad}{\arabic{A}}{\arabic{B}}{\arabic{C}}
</PRE>
<P>
The command
<A NAME="doforrandN"></A><TT>\doforrandN</TT><A NAME="510"></A><code>{</code><I>n</I><code>}{</code><I>cmd</I><code>}{</code><I>list</I><code>}{</code><I>text</I><code>}</code> will apply
<I>text</I> for a random selection of <I>n</I> items in the
comma separated <I>list</I>. In each iteration the list
item is denoted by <I>cmd</I>. For example, suppose you
have three files called <TT>file1.tex</TT>,
<TT>file2.tex</TT> and <TT>file3.tex</TT>, and you want to
select 1 problem from two of the three files, then you can
do:
<PRE>
\doforrandN{2}{\file}{file1,file2,file3}{\selectrandomly{\file}{1}}
</PRE>
Note that it is also possible to do
<PRE>
\newcounter{numproblems}
\random{numproblems}{1}{3}
\selectrandomly{file\arabic{numproblems}}{1}
\random{numproblems}{1}{3}
\selectrandomly{file\arabic{numproblems}}{1}
</PRE>
however there is a possibility that the same file may be
selected twice which will cause an error.
<P>
The command <A NAME="showanswers"></A><TT>\showanswers</TT><A NAME="515"></A> will show the solutions from
that point on. May be localised by placing within a group.
<P>
The command <A NAME="hideanswers"></A><TT>\hideanswers</TT><A NAME="520"></A> will hide the solutions from
that point on. May be localised by placing within a group.
<P>
The solution is placed inside the solution<TT>solution</TT>
environment. By default this environment simply does
<code>\paragraph{\solutionname:}</code> at the start, where
<A NAME="solutionname"></A><TT>\solutionname</TT><A NAME="526"></A>
has the value: Solution. See the file <TT>sample3.tex</TT>, which
comes with this package, for an illustration of how to
customise the way in which the randomly selected problems are
displayed. This sample file randomly selects multiple choice
problems stored in the file <TT>tabmchoice.tex</TT>, and displays them
in a longtable <TT>environment</TT>.
<P>
The boolean variable <TT>showanswers</TT> is defined to be
true if the answers are shown and false otherwise. You can
therefore do something like:
<PRE>
\ifthenelse{\boolean{showanswers}}{\textbf{Solution Sheet}}{}
</PRE>
and <B>Solution Sheet</B> will be printed only if the
answers are displayed. (For more information on
<TT>\ifthenelse</TT><A NAME="531"></A> and <TT>\boolean</TT><A NAME="535"></A> see the
documentation for the <TT>ifthen</TT> package by
David Carlisle.)
<P>
The <TT>showanswers</TT> switch can also be used within the definition
of a problem, if you want the question to appear differently if the
solution is displayed. For example:
<PRE>
\newproblem{mc:prod}{%
Which of the following is the derivative of $x\sin(x)$?
(Circle the correct answer.)
\ifthenelse{\boolean{showanswers}}{}%
{\begin{description}
\item[A] $\sin(x)$
\item[B] $x\cos(x)$
\item[C] $\sin(x) + x\cos(x)$
\end{description}
}}{%
\begin{description}
\item[A] $\sin(x)$
\item[B] $x\cos(x)$
\item[\textcircled{C}] $\sin(x) + x\cos(x)$ (product rule).
\end{description}
}
</PRE>
If the solutions are not displayed, the question will appear
as
<DL>
<DT></DT>
<DD>Which of the following is the derivative of
<I>x</I>sin(<I>x</I>)?
(Circle the correct answer.)
<DL>
<DT><STRONG>A</STRONG></DT>
<DD>sin(<I>x</I>)
</DD>
<DT><STRONG>B</STRONG></DT>
<DD><I>x</I>cos(<I>x</I>)
</DD>
<DT><STRONG>C</STRONG></DT>
<DD>sin(<I>x</I>)+<I>x</I>cos(<I>x</I>)
</DD>
</DL>
</DD>
</DL>
otherwise it will appear as:
<DL>
<DT></DT>
<DD>Which of the following is the derivative of
<I>x</I>sin(<I>x</I>)?
(Circle the correct answer.)
<DL>
<DT><STRONG>A</STRONG></DT>
<DD>sin(<I>x</I>)
</DD>
<DT><STRONG>B</STRONG></DT>
<DD><I>x</I>cos(<I>x</I>)
</DD>
<DT><STRONG><FONT SIZE="+2">©</FONT></STRONG></DT>
<DD>sin(<I>x</I>) + <I>x</I>cos(<I>x</I>) (product rule)
</DD>
</DL>
</DD>
</DL>
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION000100000000000000000">
Troubleshooting</A>
</H1>
<H2><A NAME="SECTION000101000000000000000">
Unexpected Output</A>
</H2>
<UL>
<LI>I have lots of blank space before the first problem when
using <A HREF="#selectrandomly"><TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="541"></A></A>.
<P>
This is probably because you have lots of extraneous white space
in your database. <A HREF="#selectrandomly"><TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="547"></A></A> will input the entire
file, so any extra space will be included. Try commenting out the
extra space using %.
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="SECTION000102000000000000000">
Error Messages</A>
</H2>
<UL>
<LI><TT>! Package probsoln Error: Label ... already used.
</TT>
<P>
Each label identifier used in <A HREF="#newproblem"><TT>\newproblem</TT><A NAME="553"></A></A> must be
unique. Check to make sure you haven't used the same label
more than once. Also check to make sure you haven't
<TT>\input</TT><A NAME="557"></A>ed or randomly selected from the same file more
than once. (Or <TT>\input</TT><A NAME="561"></A>ed and randomly selected from
the same file.)
<P>
</LI>
<LI><TT>! Package probsoln Error: Label ... undefined.
</TT>
<P>
You need to define a problem before you can use it. Check to
make sure you haven't mis-spelt it, and check to make sure you
have <TT>\input</TT><A NAME="565"></A>ed the file in which it is defined.
<P>
</LI>
<LI><TT>! Package probsoln Error: Requested number too large.
</TT>
<P>
You have asked for more problems than are defined within the
specified file. All problems in that file will be selected.
<P>
</LI>
<LI><TT>! Package probsoln Error: Can't randomly select <I>n</I>
item(s)
</TT>
<P>
You have asked to randomly select <I>n</I> items from a list
that has less than <I>n</I> elements. For example, the
following will generate this error:
<PRE>
\doforrandN{10}{\file}{file1,file2,file3}{%
\selectrandomly{\file}{1}}
</PRE>
In this case the list, <TT>file1,file2,file3</TT> has only 3
elements, but the user has asked for 10 elements. If you type
`h' at the L<SUP><SMALL>A</SMALL></SUP>T<SMALL>E</SMALL>X prompt it will tell you how many items it thinks
there are in the list. Remember that each item must be separated by a
comma.
<P>
</LI>
<LI><TT>! LaTeX Error: Lonely <TT>\item</TT><A NAME="569"></A>-perhaps missing list
environment.
</TT>
<P>
Each problem selected using <A HREF="#selectrandomly"><TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="575"></A></A> is
proceeded by <A HREF="#PSNitem"><TT>\PSNitem</TT><A NAME="581"></A></A> which by default is defined
as <TT>\item</TT><A NAME="585"></A>, and should therefore be
placed in one of the list environments, such as
<TT>enumerate</TT>. Alternatively, redefine <A HREF="#PSNitem"><TT>\PSNitem</TT><A NAME="591"></A></A>.
<P>
</LI>
<LI>I get an error when I put a command definition in my database
when using <TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="595"></A>.
<P>
<A HREF="#selectrandomly"><TT>\selectrandomly</TT><A NAME="601"></A></A> inputs the database twice, so any
command definition will be read twice, causing an error. You
can use the switch <TT>\iffirstpass</TT><A NAME="605"></A> to prevent the error. For
example:
<PRE>
\iffirstpass
\newcommand{\mycmd}{}
\fi
</PRE>
It is generally not a good idea to put anything other than
<A HREF="#newproblem"><TT>\newproblem</TT><A NAME="611"></A></A> commands within the database.
<P>
</LI>
</UL>
<P>
<H1><A NAME="SECTION000110000000000000000">
Contact Details</A>
</H1>
Dr Nicola Talbot
<BR>
School of Computing Sciences
<BR>
University of East Anglia
<BR>
Norwich. NR4 7TJ
<BR><TT><A NAME="tex2html4"
HREF="http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/">http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/</A></TT>
<P>
<BR>
<H2><A NAME="SECTION000120000000000000000">
Index</A>
</H2><DL COMPACT>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\arabic</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#505">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\boolean</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#535">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\doforrandN</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#510">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\endPSNitem</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#474">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\hideanswers</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#520">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\iffirstpass</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#605">Error Messages</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\ifthenelse</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#531">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\input</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#416">Creating a Database</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#557">Error Messages</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#561">Error Messages</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#565">Error Messages</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\item</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#465">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#569">Error Messages</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#585">Error Messages</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\newproblem</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#393">Creating a New Problem</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#397">Creating a New Problem</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#412">Creating a Database</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#435">Displaying a Problem</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#553">Error Messages</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#611">Error Messages</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\PSitem</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#461">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\PSNitem</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#581">Error Messages</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#591">Error Messages</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\PSNrandseed</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#483">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\random</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#494">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\selectallproblems</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#447">Selecting All Problems</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\selectrandomly</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#420">Creating a Database</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#424">Creating a Database</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#452">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#456">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#469">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#478">Selecting Problems at Random</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#489">Other Commands</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#541">Unexpected Output</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#547">Unexpected Output</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#575">Error Messages</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#601">Error Messages</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#595">Error Messages</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\showanswers</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#515">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\solutionname</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#526">Other Commands</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\useproblem</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#429">Displaying a Problem</A>
| <A HREF="manual.html#439">Displaying a Problem</A>
<DT><STRONG><TT>\value</TT></STRONG>
<DD><A HREF="manual.html#498">Other Commands</A>
</DL>
<BR><HR>
<ADDRESS>
<a href=http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/>Nicola L. C. Talbot</a>. <a href=http://www.cmp.uea.ac.uk/>School of Computing Sciences</a>. <a href=http://www.uea.ac.uk/>University of East Anglia.</a> Last Modified: 2006-03-02
</ADDRESS>
</BODY>
</HTML>
|
