Efofex News

We have added a calculator command which can find the MostCommon element of a set.

For example, if we create an Explode parameter such as:

$m=explode(“MATHEMATICAL”)

(Remember that an explode parameter takes a string of characters and explodes it into individual characters so $m will contain {M,A,T,H,E,M,A,T,I,C,A,L})

The calculator command:

{mostcommon($m)}

will contain “A”, which is the most common element in the set.

If there is more than one “most common” element, all of them are returned by the MostCommon command. For example, if $m = explode(“MATHEMATICS”), {mostcommon($m)} will return {M,A,T}

Efofex has long provided students with special needs with free licenses for our products. This has proved especially useful with FX Equation as many students find FX Equation to be the quickest way to input mathematical materials using a keyboard or keyboard analog.

If you have a student who finds it difficult to write mathematics due to a special need, take a look at our EmPower program. We have helped thousands of students over the past 20 years.

One of the main issues our EmPower students face is convincing examining bodies that FX Equation does not provide them with a mathematical advantage in an exam situation. Recent versions of FX Equation, with the inline calculator, have made this more difficult as the inline calculator DOES provide a mathematical benefit to users.

Recently, we added a special Exam Mode to FX Equation which removes access to the problematic features and makes the task of convincing examining bodies MUCH simpler.

The new examination mode, and a letter that can be provided to examining bodies, can be found on the EmPower page.

We have implemented four new commands in the inline calculator.

numerator(value) – Returns the numerator of value (if value is an exact fraction).

denominator(value) – Returns the denominator of value (if value is an exact fraction).

imaginary(value) – Returns the imaginary component of value (if value is complex).

real(value) – Returns the real component of value (if value is complex).

Nearly 20 years ago we were told that FX Equation was the perfect mathematical tool for students who had trouble “writing” mathematics. The ability to just type, with minimal formatting, and have FX Equation automatically format it into readable equations and text is simply unmatched. The same features that make FX Equation the most efficient equation editor for mathematics teachers, makes it powerful for these students.

Since then, we have helped thousands of students who struggle to write mathematics. Students with conditions as diverse as cerebral palsy, quadrilpegia and dysgraphia have all benefited. We have even had a number of students going to higher level mathematics and engineering. Our free, EmPower program has been an outstanding success and is something we are very proud of.

Then came MultiDocs.

One of the main pillars of the MultiDocs system is the inclusion of an inline calculator which permits you to automate many of the calculations you need for solutions. This inclusion has proved problematic for examining bodies who need to ensure that any approved accommodation does not provide an unfair advantage to students. The inline calculator definitely provides such an advantage.

To address this, we have now added an “Exam Mode” to FX Equation which disables any problematic features. This will make it much easier for our EmPower students to gain approval from examining bodies.

You can find more information about our EmPower program, and the new Exam Mode, on our Empower page.

It has been a few months since we last wrote, but we have been busy! MultiDocs are moving on and are becoming simply the most efficient way to design and use mathematical materials.

If you are interested in creating MultiDocs, we recommend that you look at our Efofex Insiders newsletter where we announce some of the more esoteric additions to the capabilities. Recently we have added articles on new parameter types (which allow you to select from sets or divide numbers into random “buckets”), new calculator commands (which allow you to extract numerators and denominators or find the most common element) and a new display style (which allows you to show simplification of calculations).

If you want to turbocharge your productivity, MultiDocs are simply unmatched! Take a look at them today.

We have added the ability to automatically format large numbers.

By default, the equation tool will now use narrow spaces to break up large numbers into groups of three. Alternatively you can use commas or no format. Other combinations will be considered on an as-need basis.

You do not need to apply any manual formatting. Your selected formatting will be applied automatically.

The new display style is particularly useful for parameters as you have no opportunity to manually format a large number.

We have implemented a new Mixed command for the inline calculator that displays a value as a mixed numeral / mixed fraction if possible. If the value cannot be displayed as a mixed number, the inline calculator will attempt to display the value as an exact value.

mixed(12/5) will be displayed as 2 2/5

The mixed command can be used on decimal values. Your decimal value will be converted to an exact value (if possible) and then displayed as a mixed numeral.

We have implemented a new display style and a calculator function to support it.

You can set an overall display style using the display button.

This will display the result of any calculation showing 3 significant figures.

The addition of a significant figure display style brings the total number of overall display styles to six:

Decimal, Rounded, Fixed, Scientific Notation, Exact and Significant Figures

We have also implemented a new inline calculator command which allows you to override the current overall display setting for an individual calculation.

sig(1343.4564,2) = 1300
sig(1343.4564) = 1340
sig(0.005204,3) = 0.00520

The format of the new command is:

sig(value,sf)

If you do not include a parameter for the number of significant figures, our products will default to 3 significant figures.

We have spent our summer break (we are based in the Southern Hemisphere) working hard to make the new MultiDocs systems ready for use by ALL of our customers. The capabilities of the system have been expanded while the usage for most teachers has been simplified. The Word toolbar, for example, now has two modes: Simple Mode, which allows any teacher to quickly load and regenerate an existing MultiDoc or build their own from our FX Library materials

and Expert Mode which gives you access to all the power of the MultiDocs system. This is ideal for anyone creating their own MultiDocs materials.

The more we have worked on the new system, the more convinced we are that MultiDocs represent a paradigm shift in how schools create and manage their mathematics assessments. The ability for ANY teacher (not just the “Efofex Guru”) to quickly load and regenerate a test or exam, getting a completely new version with fully-worked solutions (if created by the author) is truly game-changing.

If you haven’t had a look at the new system, please take the time to quickly peruse the MultiDocs website. It could dramatically improve your productivity.

Introduction to MultiDocs

FX Library is a collection of pre-written MultiDocs materials that you can use as exemplars to create your own questions or directly in tests and exams. FX Library is your best source of regeneratable MultiDocs materials.

Up until recently, we have provided the materials as one question per file. Feedback from teachers has indicated that this is not as useful as a module of materials on the same content.

While we may still release individual questions as individual documents, the majority of our materials will be released as modules in the future.

A module is a collection of questions/materials on the same topic. The questions will range from simple to complex and should allow you to quickly create your own regeneratable materials. All questions come with fully worked solutions. Simply download a module and begin cutting and pasting into your own document.

Modules are like chapters of a book so they take longer to write. We will be working feverishly to increase the amount of materials available.

Soon, we will be looking for authors to help us produce a comprehensive library of materials for you to use. More details to come soon!