Recognising equivalent forms of trigonometric powers

[Tarang74]

I have an issue with a quiz answer:

sec^2(theta) // Correct answer

I tried:

1. sec(theta)^2 // Marked incorrect

which was incorrect, but I understand writing a power like that is ambiguous, so I tried:

2. (sec(theta))^2 // Marked incorrect even though it should be correct

instead, which was surprisingly also marked as incorrect.

Does the parser not recognise that the second form is equivalent to the correct answer?

[christianp]

Hi, Numbas doesn't recognise the sec^2(theta) notation as equivalent to sec(theta)^2, by design. It's inconsistent with other uses of superscripts. Numbas interprets sec^2(theta) as sec^2 * theta. We have an open issue at #478 about whether to allow this notation as an option. There's a page describing the problems with the notation at https://whystartat.xyz/wiki/Powers_of_trigonometric_functions.

[Tarang74]

Thanks @christianp, so do you recommend only using (sin(theta))^2 from here onwards?

[christianp]

@Tarang74 yes, that's what I'd use.