Welcome to WeBWorK, an online homework system. On the left, you'll find links to the WeBWorK sites for the various UW-Madison math department courses using the system this semester.
Further below you'll find instructions on how to use the system and helpful hints for having it cooperate.
If you think you've found an error in a problem or a problem produces an error, please contact both your instructor and me. Be sure to tell me what class you're in, the assignment and problem, and what went wrong.
Logging In: Begin by following the appropriate link on the left to the WeBWorK website for your particular course. Your username is your University of Wisconsin username. Your password is your University of Wisconsin student ID number (ten digits). Please change your password the first time you log in.
Accessing Homework: After logging in, you'll see a list of assignments. Selecting an available problem set will take you to a list of problems. Selecting a problem will show it. Note that your peers may have slightly different problems; however your problem will not change if you log off and log back on.
Inputting Answers: Many of the problems require a numerical answer. Both the exact answer and an approximation (with sufficient accuracy and precision) are acceptable. Your answer is checked with the correct answer by determining whether its relative accuracy meets a specified threshold. Four significant digits should usually suffice.
Other problems require a functional answer. Again your answer is checked with the correct answer by determining whether its relative accuracy meets a specified threshold. Maintaining another significant digit or two may be necessary.
Other problems may require a short response answer. Follow the directions carefully - deviating from them at all will likely cause your answer to be considered incorrect.
In addition to the constants "pi" and "e", the following functions are all allowed in your answers.
Arithmetic
| + | - | * | / |
Exponentiation and Logarithms
| ^ | (for exponentiation - i.e. 2^3 = 8) |
| sqrt | (for square root - i.e. sqrt(9) = 3) |
| ln | (for natural logarithm - i.e. ln(2) = 0.693147) |
| logten | (for the logarithm base ten - i.e. logten(100) = 2) |
Trigonometric
| sin | cos | tan |
| arcsin | arccos | arctan |
| sinh | cosh | tanh |
| arcsinh | arccosh | arctanh |
WeBWorK uses the standard rules of precedence. So, for example, "1 + 4 / 2" will evaluate to "3" rather than "5/2". Use parentheses!
Sample numerical answers might be "2007", "-sqrt(3) / 3", or "(ln(5))^2". Sample functional answers might be "x+2", "sin(x^2 + 3x)", or "2^(pi x)". Sample short response answers might be "true", "concave up", or "maximum".
Changing Your Password Under the Main Menu, select the "Password / Email" option. Input your current password, your new password, and confirm your new password. Be sure to click the "Change User Options" button at the bottom. Do not enter a new email address unless you wish to change it also.
Viewing Your Grades Under the Main Menu, select the "Grades" option.
Preview Your Answer: WeBWorK may not interpret your answer as you intended. Previewing your answer will allow you to confirm that the answer WeBWorK checks is the answer you intended.
Use Parenetheses: WeBWorK may not interpret your answer as you intended if you don't use parentheses. For example, WeBWorK will interpret "1 / 2a" as "a/2" rather than "1 / (2a)".
Use Radians: Although degrees are more popular than radians with the general public, radians are the preferred means of expressing angles amongst mathematicians. If an angle is requested, it is requested in radians unless explicitly stated otherwise.