Numbers and Scientific Notation

Help Awaits

At any point you can email questhelp@austin.utexas.edu with questions or concerns regarding technical difficulties using the system.

Some questions you may encounter in Quest will use numeric free response answers that you type in. The following example is a numeric type question on a learning module slide, but these questions can appear on all types of Quest assignments.

If your instructor has allowed retries, you will be given 7 attempts
Most solution answers are at least six digits (unless significant figures are relevant to the question/otherwise denoted)
For credit your answer must be within 1% of the correct answer, unless tolerance is otherwise denoted (so entering in four digits to the right of the decimal is usually sufficient)

Pro-Tips

Start with at least four significant digits for numeric entry; your response must be within 1% of the correct answer unless otherwise designated
Scientific notation may use the format of "e" or "x10^"
Comma use is fine.
Do not use symbols in solutions (ie do not use $ in monetary solutions, but you can write 'dollars'-or the specified 'answer in units of ---- ' stated in the question, after your numeric answer).
If offered, use the function pallet. If you don't see the pallet, plan on entering an actual number calculated out or simple expression (ex: 3x-5).

For applicable practice, your professor may opt to include a short 3 part question (sig fig practice, #222082) for you to get use to what is and is not acceptable:

Note that if you get a 'that response has already been entered' message, try to use another way to say the same thing (ie, if used 10^, try e). If you continue to get the 'that response has already been entered' accept that it is not correct and try again. This is a safeguard in place so you don't spend all your tries insisting on an answer that is incorrect.