# How to correct a table

**URL:** <https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** validation, correctness\
**Created:** [March 4, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828 "2021-03-04T15:10:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Corey\_Bradley](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/corey_bradley/32/389_2.png) [@Corey\_Bradley](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Corey_Bradley)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828/1 "2021-03-04T15:10:48Z")

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I am wanting to have my table check the answer the students give in column 2 of each table. They are going to be solving the equations and would like for them to receive feedback on each question rather than waiting to answer all of the questions in order to know if they are correct.

[https://teacher.desmos.com/activitybuilder/custom/6040dde9b5ec8a0b63a84e0c](https://teacher.desmos.com/activitybuilder/custom/6040dde9b5ec8a0b63a84e0c)

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**Author:** ![Daniel\_Grubbs](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/daniel_grubbs/32/719_2.png) [@Daniel\_Grubbs](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Daniel_Grubbs)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828/2 "2021-03-04T18:28:00Z")

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I didn’t look at your code, but something like:

```auto
cellContent(1,3): when this.cellNumericValue(1,2)=5 "Correct!" otherwise "Try Again"

```

where 5 is the correct answer.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Corey\_Bradley](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/corey_bradley/32/389_2.png) [@Corey\_Bradley](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Corey_Bradley)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828/3 "2021-03-05T14:24:36Z")

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Is there a way to have the box stay empty until the student enters an answer and then tells them to try again or that the answer is correct?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SteinSchreiber](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/steinschreiber/32/2267_2.png) [@SteinSchreiber](https://cl.desmos.com/u/SteinSchreiber)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828/4 "2021-03-05T17:02:01Z")

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My way of achieving this is by using an action button. Student’s don’t get instant feedback but it is a way to keep the box blank before they check. I added an example from one of my activities.

> **[\[Copy of\] 2 Step Equations- (x±a)/b=c and a(x±b)=c • Activity Builder by Desmos](https://teacher.desmos.com/activitybuilder/custom/6042608f65024f0ccc368267)**
>
> by Stein Schreiber

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Daniel\_Grubbs](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/daniel_grubbs/32/719_2.png) [@Daniel\_Grubbs](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Daniel_Grubbs)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828/5 "2021-03-05T17:20:30Z")

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```auto
cellContent(1,3): when isBlank(this.cellContent(1,2)) or this.cellHasFocus(1,2) ""
when this.cellNumericValue(1,2)=5 "Correct!"
 otherwise "Try Again"

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SteinSchreiber](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/steinschreiber/32/2267_2.png) [@SteinSchreiber](https://cl.desmos.com/u/SteinSchreiber)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828/6 "2021-03-05T17:38:49Z")

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Haven’t played with cellFocus much. I need to look into it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Daniel\_Grubbs](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/cl.desmos.com/daniel_grubbs/32/719_2.png) [@Daniel\_Grubbs](https://cl.desmos.com/u/Daniel_Grubbs)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://cl.desmos.com/t/how-to-correct-a-table/2828/7 "2021-03-05T17:44:12Z")

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I sometimes prefer students press the button to get feedback, but I’ve recently started using this code. They have to hit enter or exit the cell to see feedback, _and_ negative feedback doesn’t show while they’re putting something new in if fixing an answer.