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Getting Started with PreTeXt

Geoff Cox, Ph.D.

Section Project 3: Interactive Reading Questions

This project is intentionally different from the first two. Instead of building a reference document or a printable worksheet, you will build a short online activity designed for immediate feedback. It is a good pattern for pre-class checks, warm-ups, or low-stakes review.
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Create a new project called Product Rule Reading Questions. This time you will build the whole activity from the instructions below rather than from a finished target.
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Here is the target activity for reference: Product Rule Reading Questions.
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Subsection Build the page structure

Checkpoint 11.

(b)
Delete the two subsections and the conclusion. We will only need the <introduction> and the <exercises> for this activity.
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(c)
Replace the section’s <introduction> with a short paragraph explaining that learners should answer the questions before class and use the feedback to review. For example,
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Answer the following questions before class to check that you recognize the product rule and can identify where it applies.
Solution. PreTeXt Source so far 
<section>
  <title>Product Rule Reading Questions</title>
  <introduction>
    <p>
      Answer the following questions before class 
      to check that you recognize the product rule 
      and can identify where it applies.
    </p>
  </introduction>

  <exercises>...</exercises>
</section>
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Subsection Add a true/false question

Checkpoint 12.

(a)
Make some room inside the <exercises> block and paste the true/false template. Then adapt it to this statement:
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The product rule is needed to differentiate \(f(x)=x^2e^x\text{.}\)
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(b)
Set the correct attribute appropriately and write feedback that explains why the answer is correct.
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Solution. One working version 
<exercise>
  <title>True/False</title>
  <statement correct="yes">
    <p>
      The product rule is needed to 
      differentiate <m>f(x)=x^2e^x</m>.
    </p>
  </statement>
  <feedback>
    <p>
      Correct. The function is a product of 
      <m>x^2</m> and <m>e^x</m>, so the 
      derivative requires the product rule.
    </p>
  </feedback>
</exercise>
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Subsection Add a multiple-choice question

Checkpoint 13.

(b)
Keep three answer choices, mark the correct one, and write feedback for every option so the learner gets useful guidance even when they miss it.
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Solution. Possible answer choices 
<exercise>
  <title>Multiple Choice</title>
  <statement>
    <p>
      Which derivative is correct for <m>f(x)=x^3\sin x</m>?
    </p>
  </statement>
  <choices randomize="yes">
    <choice>
      <statement>
        <p><m>3x^2\cos x</m></p>
      </statement>
      <feedback>
        <p>
          This multiplies the individual derivatives 
          instead of adding the two terms required by 
          the product rule.
        </p>
      </feedback>
    </choice>
    <choice correct="yes">
      <statement>
        <p><m>3x^2\sin x + x^3\cos x</m></p>
      </statement>
      <feedback>
        <p>
          Yes. Differentiate one factor at a time and 
          add the two products.
        </p>
      </feedback>
    </choice>
    <choice>
      <statement>
        <p><m>x^3\cos x</m></p>
      </statement>
      <feedback>
        <p>
          This differentiates only the sine factor and 
          forgets the derivative of <m>x^3</m>.
        </p>
      </feedback>
    </choice>
  </choices>
</exercise>
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Subsection Add a clickable-area question

Checkpoint 14.

(b)
To space out the answer choices, use a <tabular> with one row and four cells. Put one expression in each cell and wrap it in an <area>. Mark the correct choices and write feedback that helps learners understand the difference between a product, a composition, and a quotient.
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Solution. One working version 
<exercise>
  <title>Clickable Area</title>
  <statement>
    <p>
      Click every function that requires the 
      product rule.
    </p>
  </statement>
  <areas>
  <tabular>
    <row>
      <cell>
        <area><m>x^2\cos x</m>,</area>
      </cell>
      <cell>
        <area correct="no"><m>\sin(x^2)</m>,</area>
      </cell>
      <cell>
        <area><m>(x+1)e^x</m>,</area>
      </cell>
      <cell>
        <area correct="no"><m>\dfrac{x^2+1}{x-3}</m></area>
      </cell>
    </row>
  </tabular>
  </areas>
  <feedback>
    <p>
      Look for a product of two factors being multiplied.
    </p>
  </feedback>
</exercise>
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Subsection Finish the activity

Add one final <p> at the bottom inviting learners to revisit the product-rule definition or worksheet if they struggled. If you want, link back to the worksheet you built in the previous project with a <url> once it has a shareable link.
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You can build reading questions for theorem recognition, notation review, common misconceptions, or short pre-class quizzes without leaving PreTeXt.Plus.
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