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## Keyboard shortcuts: Enter math expressions

You can use keyboard shortcuts to enter the following formats, Greek letters, symbols, and special functions for mathematical expressions, whether answering on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Keyboard shortcuts for engineering

Tablet and smartphone users: Tap the answer box for the toolbar to appear beneath it.

Math formats: subscript, exponent, fraction, square root, vector, absolute value, etc.
For this math formatType this from your keyboardOn a tablet or smartphone, open the ...

y3

(subscript)

_
(underbar)

Numeric keyboard to enter _

102
(exponent)

^
Numeric keyboard to enter ^

(fraction)*

/

Letters keyboard to enter /

2.56

(decimal point)

.
Numeric keyboard to enter .
( )( and )
Numeric keyboard to enter ( and )
[ ][ and ]
Numeric keyboard to enter [ and ]
{ } { and }
Numeric keyboard to enter { and }
+
+
Numeric keyboard to enter +

-

(minus sign)

- (hyphen)
Numeric keyboard to enter -

(multiplication dot)
* (asterisk)
Numeric keyboard to enter *

(square root)

\sqrt
Letters keyboard to enter \sqrt

(nth root)

\nrt
Letters keyboard to enter \nrt
|x|
(absolute value)
|
Numeric keyboard to enter |

(vector)

\vec
Letters keyboard to enter \vec

(unit vector)

\hat
Letters keyboard to enter \hat

*To enter an expression with multiplication in the numerator: Choose from the Templates menu for the correct format. (You cannot use /.)

Greek letter symbols, EMF, and hbar
For this letterEnter this from your keyboard
OR
on a tablet or smartphone, open the Letters keyboard and enter
a\alpha
b\beta
g\gamma
D, d\Delta, \delta
e\epsilon
h\eta
q\theta
k\kappa
l\lambda
m\mu
n\nu
p\pi
r\rho
S, s\Sigma, \sigma
t\tau
F, f\phi
c\chi
Y, y\Psi, \psi
W, w\Omega, \omega
\EMF
\hbar

Special functions (acos, acot, ascs, ...)

For this special functionEnter this from your keyboard
OR
on a tablet or smartphone, open the Letters or Numeric keyboard, as needed
arccosineacos(x) or cos^-1(x)
arccotangentacot(x) or cot^-1(x)
arccosecantascs(x) or csc^-1(x)
arcsecantasec(x) or sec^-1(x)
arcsineasin(x) or sin^-1(x)
arctangentatan(x) or tan^-1(x)
cosinecos(x)
cotangentcot(x)
cosecantcsc(x)
Euler's number (2.71828...) e^x or exp(x)
natural logarithm (base e)ln(x)
common logarithm (base 10) log(x)
secantsec(x)
sinesin(x)
tangent tan(x)

To move the cursor within your answer: On a computer, use your keyboard arrow keys (, , , ). On a mobile device, use your finger or other input device. For finer cursor control on a phone: Enlarge your view of the answer box before moving the cursor.

To view these keyboard shortcuts as you work

Choose Keyboard shortcuts from the answer box toolbar.

To print this Help topic

Choose Print in the upper right of this Help page.
The topic will print as it appears online. To print the complete topic, choose Expand all before printing.

You must register your WebAssign account within the first 14 days.
The access code needed for registration is on an insert in your textbook/eText from the bookstore ($85) or bought online from WebAssign ($100). The access code will be something like "Cengage RSY 5744 ... ". Include the word "Cengage" when entering the access code.

Each web assignment is due 48 hours after the corresponding lecture unless specified otherwise. Hence "web hw 02" is due 48 hours after the beginning of Lecture 2; "web hw 03" is due 48 hours after Lecture 3, ..., etc.
If you submit your web assignment late, click "Past assignments". Select your assignment and click "Extension request". Do not click "key"; this locks the assignment. You get 85% late credit. WebAssign does not allow assignments more than 14 days late.

WebAssign needs both Java and Flash to be enabled to see the graphs and number lines and pencil tool. This is usually done via the "Setting" link of your browser. If this doesn't work try another browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, IE). With Chrome try "Settings/Advance/Content/Privacy and security/Content settings/Flash/Allow -- add WebAssign to the list.
For each problem, there is usually a practice problem link at the bottom. Practice until you can do the problem. Then do the problem. If your first try fails, the select a "New Randomization" and do the problem a second or third time (only 3 tries allowed).
For gateway exams, problems are not submitted individually. The entire assignment is submitted. For the preGateway exam, if you don't like your assignment score, you can try again a second or third time. Go to the bottom of the screen and click "New Randomization". After the third try, you are locked out. Each download constitutes a "try" even if you don't submit it. On each try, you must complete all problems, not just those you missed on a previous try. If the score you see on the top total line isn't correct for your current try, it is because you have a better total on an earlier try and WebAssign lists the best total.
In math, case matters, x and X are not the same variable. WebAssign won't give credit for X-1 if the answer should be x-1.

WebAssign homework is separate from the written homework you hand in at the beginning of your discussion section class. The written homework is graded by your teaching assistant. For the due dates, click "Home" above and then "Full Calendar". WebAssign's calendar can be seen inside WebAssign, click "Calendar" on the menu bar. If you would like WebAssign to send you email notifications of WebAssign homework which is due, click "Notifications" on right side of the menu bar.