# Evaluating expressions in a table

**URL:** <https://cl.desmos.com/t/evaluating-expressions-in-a-table/5712>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** patterns\
**Created:** [June 4, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/evaluating-expressions-in-a-table/5712 "2024-06-04T13:04:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Teresa\_Knouff](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/teresa_knouff/32/5245_2.png) [@Teresa\_Knouff](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Teresa_Knouff)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/evaluating-expressions-in-a-table/5712/1 "2024-06-04T13:04:26Z")

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With my inexperience with CL…

Can I code the correctness of a table with the following characteristics?

Some of the cells will have expressions solutions. The solutions will be a single variable, preferrably x or y.

Some of the cells will be left blank. (isBlank)

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**Author:** ![Daniel\_Wekselgreene](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/daniel_wekselgreene/32/1819_2.png) [@Daniel\_Wekselgreene](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Daniel_Wekselgreene)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/evaluating-expressions-in-a-table/5712/2 "2024-06-05T18:26:51Z")

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Here is an example that could help:[table example • Activity Builder by Desmos Classroom](https://teacher.desmos.com/activitybuilder/custom/6660ac90e0f07e10178fbbed)

I used latex matching for x and y on the first screen and pattern matching on the second screen. Latex matching is simpler to code but more brittle because it has to match exactly with what the student typed. Pattern matching takes a bit more work to learn and set up but allows for more robust comparisons. In this case, because the entry is just a single letter, latex is sufficient. But you will need pattern matching for more complex expressions.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Teresa\_Knouff](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/teresa_knouff/32/5245_2.png) [@Teresa\_Knouff](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Teresa_Knouff)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/evaluating-expressions-in-a-table/5712/3 "2024-06-18T13:40:41Z")

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Thank you so much!!! This makes a lot of sense!!! I have no warnings in CL layer however when I go to preview the question it says that there are computation warnings that might not match the dashboard and that I should try it with fake students. I will admit I have not tried it with fake students yet… just curious as to why this could be an issue.