# Random coefficients in the polynom package?

I am using the probsoln package to generate random math quizzes. For polynomial division, I can generate random integer coefficients, but I had planned on using the polynom package to auto-generate the solution, but I keep getting one of those "I was expecting a number" errors.

Here is an MWE

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{probsoln}
\usepackage{polynom}

\newcounter{myCounter}

\begin{document}
\random{myCounter}{1}{10}
$\polylongdiv{ \value{myCounter}x^2 + 1 }{ x + 1 }$
\end{document}


I have also tried this using \arabic{myCounter} instead of \value, and I have tried using \pgfmathsetmacro{\newMacro}{\value{myCounter} followed by \pgfmathtruncatemacro{\truncatedMacro}{\newMacro}. Each time, \polylongdiv' issues the same error.

The .sty file: I have even opened up the .sty file to try and understand how \polylongdiv works, but it just looked like my cats and my kids had randomly played with my keyboard. I couldn't even begin to parse it.

Does anyone have a quick insight/adjustment I can use to accomplish this?

-

You should expand the number before \polylongdiv starts its work:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{probsoln}
\usepackage{polynom}

\newcounter{myCounter}

\newcommand\epolylongdiv[2]{%
\begingroup\edef\x{\endgroup
\noexpand\polylongdiv{#1}{#2}}\x}

\begin{document}
\random{myCounter}{1}{10}
$\epolylongdiv{ \themyCounter x^2 + 1 }{ x + 1 }$
\random{myCounter}{1}{10}
$\epolylongdiv{ \themyCounter x^2 + 1 }{ x + 1 }$
\end{document}


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This worked really well, thanks! I was also able to adapt your suggestion to work with the \polynomialfrac' command from the `polynomial' package. – HTG Nov 8 '12 at 3:58