diff --git a/docs/course_authors/source/appendices/e.rst b/docs/course_authors/source/appendices/e.rst
index 8531766d0b..9eb74adf09 100644
--- a/docs/course_authors/source/appendices/e.rst
+++ b/docs/course_authors/source/appendices/e.rst
@@ -328,6 +328,12 @@ expected answer.
 The expected answer can be specified explicitly or precomputed by a Python
 script.
 
+Accepted input types include ``<formulaequationinput />`` and ``<textline />``.
+However, the math display on ``<textline math="1" />`` uses a different parser
+and has different capabilities than the response type--this may lead to student
+confusion. For this reason, we strongly urge using ``<formulaequationinput />``
+only, and the examples below show its use.
+
 Sample Problem:
 
 .. image:: ../Images/image292.png
@@ -343,14 +349,14 @@ Sample Problem:
 
   <p>What base is the decimal numeral system in?
       <numericalresponse answer="10">
-          <textline />
+          <formulaequationinput />
       </numericalresponse>
   </p>
 
     <p>What is the value of the standard gravity constant <i>g</i>, measured in m/s<sup>2</sup>? Give your answer to at least two decimal places.
     <numericalresponse answer="9.80665">
       <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.01" />
-        <textline />
+      <formulaequationinput />
     </numericalresponse>
   </p>
 
@@ -362,7 +368,7 @@ Sample Problem:
   <p>What is the distance in the plane between the points (pi, 0) and (0, e)? You can type math.
       <numericalresponse answer="$computed_response">
           <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.0001" />
-          <textline math="1" />
+          <formulaequationinput />
       </numericalresponse>
   </p>
   <solution>
@@ -391,7 +397,7 @@ Exact values
   <problem>
 
     <numericalresponse answer="10">
-      <textline />
+      <formulaequationinput />
     </numericalresponse>
 
     <solution>
@@ -409,7 +415,7 @@ Answers with decimal precision
 
     <numericalresponse answer="9.80665">
       <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.01" />
-        <textline />
+      <formulaequationinput />
     </numericalresponse>
 
     <solution>
@@ -427,25 +433,7 @@ Answers with percentage precision
 
     <numericalresponse answer="100">
       <responseparam type="tolerance" default="10%" />
-        <textline />
-    </numericalresponse>
-
-    <solution>
-    <div class="detailed-solution">
-
-    </div>
-  </solution>
-  </problem>
-
-Answers with a live math interpretation popup display
-
-.. code-block:: xml
-
-  <problem>
-
-    <numericalresponse answer="3.14159">
-      <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001" />
-      <textline math="1" />
+      <formulaequationinput />
     </numericalresponse>
 
     <solution>
@@ -468,7 +456,7 @@ Answers with scripts
 
     <numericalresponse answer="$computed_response">
       <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.0001" />
-      <textline math="1" />
+      <formulaequationinput />
     </numericalresponse>
 
     <solution>
@@ -479,7 +467,7 @@ Answers with scripts
   </problem>
 
 
-XML Attribute Information
+**XML Attribute Information**
 
 <script>
 
@@ -490,15 +478,103 @@ XML Attribute Information
 
   .. image:: ../Images/numericalresponse2.png
 
+Children may include ``<formulaequationinput/>``.
+
 <responseparam>
 
   .. image:: ../Images/numericalresponse4.png
 
-<textline>
+<formulaequationinput/>
+
+========= ============================================= =====
+Attribute                  Description                  Notes
+========= ============================================= =====
+size      (optional) defines the size (i.e. the width)
+          of the input box displayed to students for
+          typing their math expression.
+========= ============================================= =====
+
+<textline> (While <textline /> is supported, its use is extremely discouraged. We urge usage of <formulaequationinput />. See the opening paragraphs of the Numerical Response section for more information.)
 
   .. image:: ../Images/numericalresponse5.png
 
 
+Math Expression Syntax
+----------------------
+
+In NumericalResponses, the student's input may be more complicated than a
+simple number. Expressions like ``sqrt(3)`` and even ``1+e^(sin(pi/2)+2*i)``
+are valid, and evaluate to 1.73 and -0.13 + 2.47i, respectively.
+
+A summary of the syntax follows:
+
+Numbers
+~~~~~~~
+
+Accepted number types:
+
+- Integers: '2520'
+- Normal floats: '3.14'
+- With no integer part: '.98'
+- Scientific notation: '1.2e-2' (=0.012)
+- More s.n.: '-4.4e+5' = '-4.4e5' (=-440,000)
+- Appending SI suffixes: '2.25k' (=2,250). The full list:
+
+  ====== ========== ===============
+  Suffix Stands for One of these is
+  ====== ========== ===============
+  %      percent    0.01 = 1e-2
+  k      kilo       1000 = 1e3
+  M      mega       1e6
+  G      giga       1e9
+  T      tera       1e12
+  c      centi      0.01 = 1e-2
+  m      milli      0.001 = 1e-3
+  u      micro      1e-6
+  n      nano       1e-9
+  p      pico       1e-12
+  ====== ========== ===============
+
+The largest possible number handled currently is exactly the largest float
+possible (in the Python language). This number is 1.7977e+308. Any expression
+containing larger values will not evaluate correctly, so it's best to avoid
+this situation.
+
+Default Constants
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Simple and commonly used mathematical/scientific constants are included by
+default. These include:
+
+- ``i`` and ``j`` as ``sqrt(-1)``
+- ``e`` as Euler's number (2.718...)
+- ``pi``
+- ``k``: the Boltzmann constant (~1.38e-23 in Joules/Kelvin)
+- ``c``: the speed of light in m/s (2.998e8)
+- ``T``: the positive difference between 0K and 0°C (285.15)
+- ``q``: the fundamental charge (~1.602e-19 Coloumbs)
+
+Operators and Functions
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+As expected, the normal operators apply (with normal order of operations): 
+``+ - * / ^``. Also provided is a special "parallel resistors" operator given
+by ``||``. For example, an input of ``1 || 2`` would represent the resistance
+of a pair of parallel resistors (of resistance 1 and 2 ohms), evaluating to 2/3
+(ohms).
+
+At the time of writing, factorials written in the form '3!' are invalid, but there is a workaround. Students can specify ``fact(3)`` or ``factorial(3)`` to
+access the factorial function.
+
+The default included functions are the following:
+
+- Trig functions: sin, cos, tan, sec, csc, cot
+- Their inverses: arcsin, arccos, arctan, arcsec, arccsc, arccot
+- Other common functions: sqrt, log10, log2, ln, exp, abs
+- Factorial: ``fact(3)`` or ``factorial(3)`` are valid. However, you must take
+  care to only input integers. For example, ``fact(1.5)`` would fail.
+- Hyperbolic trig functions and their inverses: sinh, cosh, tanh, sech, csch, coth, arcsinh, arccosh, arctanh, arcsech, arccsch, arccoth
+
 .. raw:: latex
   
       \newpage %
@@ -513,6 +589,13 @@ mathematical expression from the student and evaluates the input for equivalence
 to a mathematical expression provided by the grader. Correctness is based on
 numerical sampling of the symbolic expressions.
 
+The syntax of the answers is shared with that of the Numerical Response,
+including default variables and functions. The difference between the two
+response types is that the Formula Response grader may specify unknown
+variables. The student's response is compared against the instructor's
+response, with the unknown variable(s) sampled at random values, as specified
+by the problem author.
+
 The answer is correct if both the student-provided response and the grader's
 mathematical expression are equivalent to specified numerical tolerance, over a
 specified range of values for each variable.
@@ -522,6 +605,15 @@ an extra burden on the problem author to specify the allowed variables in the
 expression and the numerical ranges over which the variables must be sampled in
 order to test for correctness.
 
+A further note about the variables: when the following Greek letters are typed
+out, an appropriate character is substituted:
+
+  ``alpha beta gamma delta epsilon varepsilon zeta eta theta vartheta iota
+  kappa lambda mu nu xi pi rho sigma tau upsilon phi varphi chi psi omega``
+
+Note: ``epsilon`` is the lunate version, whereas ``varepsilon`` looks like a
+backward 3.
+
 Sample Problem:
 
 .. image:: ../Images/image293.png
@@ -538,26 +630,32 @@ Sample Problem:
     <p>Write an expression for the product of R_1, R_2, and the inverse of R_3.</p>
     <formularesponse type="ci" samples="R_1,R_2,R_3@1,2,3:3,4,5#10" answer="$VoVi">
       <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001"/> 
-      <textline size="40" math="1" />
+      <formulaequationinput size="40" />
     </formularesponse>
 
     <p>Let <i>c</i> denote the speed of light. What is the relativistic energy <i>E</i> of an object of mass <i>m</i>?</p>
   <script type="loncapa/python">
   VoVi = "(R_1*R_2)/R_3"
   </script>
-  <formularesponse type="cs" samples="m,c@1,2:3,4#10" answer="m*c^2">
+    <formularesponse type="cs" samples="m,c@1,2:3,4#10" answer="m*c^2">
       <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001"/> 
-    <text><i>E</i> =</text> <textline size="40" math="1" />    
-  </formularesponse>
+      <text><i>E</i> =</text> <formulaequationinput size="40"/>
+    </formularesponse>
 
     <p>Let <i>x</i> be a variable, and let <i>n</i> be an arbitrary constant. What is the derivative of <i>x<sup>n</sup></i>?</p>
   <script type="loncapa/python">
   derivative = "n*x^(n-1)"
   </script>
-  <formularesponse type="ci" samples="x,n@1,2:3,4#10" answer="$derivative">
-    <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001"/> 
-    <textline size="40" math="1" />    
-  </formularesponse>
+    <formularesponse type="ci" samples="x,n@1,2:3,4#10" answer="$derivative">
+      <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001"/> 
+      <formulaequationinput size="40" />
+    </formularesponse>
+
+    <!-- Example problem specifying only one variable -->
+    <formularesponse type="ci" samples="x@1,9#10" answer="x**2 - x + 4">
+      <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001"/> 
+      <formulaequationinput size="40" />
+    </formularesponse>
 
     <solution>
       <div class="detailed-solution">
@@ -568,24 +666,6 @@ Sample Problem:
       </div>
     </solution>
   </problem>
-  Template
-  <problem>
-
-  <script type="loncapa/python">
-  answer_value = "n*x^(n-1)"
-  </script>
-  <formularesponse type="ci" samples="x,n@1,2:3,4#10" answer="$answer_value">
-    <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001"/> 
-    <textline size="40" math="1" />    
-  </formularesponse>
-
-    <solution>
-      <div class="detailed-solution">
-
-      </div>
-    </solution>
-  </problem>
-
 
 XML Attribute Information
 
@@ -600,11 +680,26 @@ XML Attribute Information
 
   .. image:: ../Images/formularesponse3.png
 
+Children may include ``<formulaequationinput/>``.
+
+If you do not need to specify any samples, you should look into the use of the
+Numerical Response input type, as it provides all the capabilities of Formula
+Response without the need to specify any unknown variables.
+
 <responseparam>
 
 
   .. image:: ../Images/formularesponse6.png
 
+<formulaequationinput/>
+
+========= ============================================= =====
+Attribute                  Description                  Notes
+========= ============================================= =====
+size      (optional) defines the size (i.e. the width)
+          of the input box displayed to students for
+          typing their math expression.
+========= ============================================= =====
 
 .. raw:: latex
   
@@ -825,7 +920,6 @@ Sample Problem:
     <endouttext/>
   </problem> 
 
-h
 .. raw:: latex
   
       \newpage %
diff --git a/docs/data/source/course_data_formats/formula_equation_input.rst b/docs/data/source/course_data_formats/formula_equation_input.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f91e8d2ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/data/source/course_data_formats/formula_equation_input.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+Formula Equation Input
+######################
+
+  Tag: ``<formulaequationinput />``
+
+The formula equation input is a math input type used with Numerical and Formula
+responses only. It is not to be used with Symoblic Response. It is comparable
+to a ``<textline math="1"/>`` but with a different means to display the math.
+It lets the platform validate the student's input as she types.
+
+This is achieved by periodically sending the typed expression and requesting
+its preview from the LMS. It parses the expression (using the same parser as
+the parser it uses to eventually evaluate the response for grading), and sends
+back an OK'd copy.
+
+The basic appearance is that of a textbox with a preview box below it. The
+student types in math (see note below for syntax), and a typeset preview
+appears below it. Even complicated math expressions may be entered in.
+
+For more information about the syntax, look in the course author's
+documentation, under Appendix E, the section about Numerical Responses.
+
+Format
+******
+
+The XML is rather simple, it is a ``<formulaequationinput />`` tag with an
+optional ``size`` attribute, which defines the size (i.e. the width) of the
+input box displayed to students for typing their math expression. Unlike
+``<textline />``, there is no ``math`` attribute and adding such will have no
+effect.
+
+To see an example of the input type in context:
+
+.. code-block:: xml
+
+  <problem>
+    <p>What base is the decimal numeral system in?</p>
+    <numericalresponse answer="10">
+      <formulaequationinput />
+    </numericalresponse>
+
+    <p>Write an expression for the product of R_1, R_2, and the inverse of R_3.</p>
+    <formularesponse type="ci" samples="R_1,R_2,R_3@1,2,3:3,4,5#10" answer="R_1*R_2/R_3">
+      <responseparam type="tolerance" default="0.00001"/> 
+      <formulaequationinput size="40" />
+    </formularesponse>
+  </problem>
diff --git a/docs/data/source/index.rst b/docs/data/source/index.rst
index 2af091353e..468731f255 100644
--- a/docs/data/source/index.rst
+++ b/docs/data/source/index.rst
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Specific Problem Types
    course_data_formats/custom_response.rst
    course_data_formats/symbolic_response.rst
    course_data_formats/jsinput.rst
+   course_data_formats/formula_equation_input.rst
 
 
 Internal Data Formats