variables.php

<?php
// This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/
//
// Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
// (at your option) any later version.
//
// Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
// GNU General Public License for more details.
//
// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
// along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

/**
 * The qtype_formulas_variables class is used to parse and evaluate variables.
 *
 * @copyright &copy; 2010-2011 Hon Wai, Lau
 * @author Hon Wai, Lau <lau65536@gmail.com>
 * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU Public License version 3
 */

namespace qtype_formulas;
use Exception, Throwable;

defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die();

/**
 * Helper function to emulate the behaviour of the count() function with PHP <7.2
 * Until then, count() returned 1 for e.g. a string. Since 8.0, it throws TypeError in such cases
 *
 * @author Jean-Michel Védrine
 * @param mixed $a
 * @return integer
 */
function mycount($a) {
    if ($a === null) {
        return 0;
    } else {
        if ($a instanceof \Countable || is_array($a)) {
            return count($a);
        } else {
            return 1;
        }
    }
}

function fact($n) {
    $n = (int) $n;
    if ($n < 2) {
        return 1;
    }
    $return = 1;
    for ($i = $n; $i > 1; $i--) {
        $return *= $i;
    }
    return $return;
}

/**
 * Return the plugin's version number.
 *
 * @return integer
 */
function fqversionnumber() {
    return get_config('qtype_formulas')->version;
}

/**
 * calculate standard normal probability density
 *
 * @author Philipp Imhof
 * @param float $z  value
 * @return float  standard normal density of $z
 */
function stdnormpdf($z) {
    return 1 / (sqrt(2) * M_SQRTPI) * exp(-.5 * $z ** 2);
}

/**
 * calculate standard normal cumulative distribution by approximation
 * using Simpson's rule, accurate to ~5 decimal places
 *
 * @param float $z  value
 *
 * @author Philipp Imhof
 * @return float  probability for a value of $z or less under standard normal distribution
 */
function stdnormcdf($z) {
    if ($z < 0) {
        return 1 - stdnormcdf(-$z);
    }
    $n = max(10, floor(10 * $z));
    $h = $z / $n;
    $res = stdnormpdf(0) + stdnormpdf($z);
    for ($i = 1; $i < $n; $i++) {
        $res += 2 * stdnormpdf($i * $h);
        $res += 4 * stdnormpdf(($i - 0.5) * $h);
    }
    $res += 4 * stdnormpdf(($n - 0.5) * $h);
    $res *= $h / 6;
    return $res + 0.5;
}

/**
 * calculate normal cumulative distribution by approximation
 * using Simpson's rule, accurate to ~5 decimal places
 *
 * @param float $x      value
 * @param float $mu     mean
 * @param float $sigma  standard deviation
 *
 * @author Philipp Imhof
 * @return float  probability for a value of $x or less
 */
function normcdf($x, $mu, $sigma) {
    return stdnormcdf(($x - $mu) / $sigma);
}

/**
 * raise $a to the $b-th power modulo $m using efficient
 * square and multiply
 *
 * @author Philipp Imhof
 * @param integer $a  base
 * @param integer $b  exponent
 * @param integer $m  modulus
 * @return integer  the result
 */
function modpow($a, $b, $m) {
    $bin = decbin($b);
    $res = $a;
    if ($b == 0) {
        return 1;
    }
    for ($i = 1; $i < strlen($bin); $i++) {
        if ($bin[$i] == "0") {
            $res = ($res * $res) % $m;
        } else {
            $res = ($res * $res) % $m;
            $res = ($res * $a) % $m;
        }
    }
    return $res;
}

/**
 * calculate the multiplicative inverse of $a modulo $m using the
 * extended euclidean algorithm
 *
 * @author Philipp Imhof
 * @param integer $a  the number whose inverse is to be found
 * @param integer $m  the modulus
 * @return integer  the result or 0 if the inverse does not exist
 */
function modinv($a, $m) {
    $orig_m = $m;
    if (gcd($a, $m) != 1) {
        // Inverse does not exist.
        return 0;
    }
    list($s, $t, $last_s, $last_t) = [1, 0, 0, 1];
    while ($m != 0) {
        $q = floor($a/$m);
        list($a, $m) = [$m, $a - $q * $m];
        list($s, $last_s) = [$last_s, $s - $q * $last_s];
        list($t, $last_t) = [$last_t, $t - $q * $last_t];
    }
    return ($s < 0) ? $s + $orig_m : $s;
}

/**
 * Calculate the floating point remainder of the division of
 * the arguments, i. e. x - m * floor(x / m). There is no
 * canonical definition for this function; some calculators
 * use flooring (round down to nearest integer) and others
 * use truncation (round to nearest integer, but towards zero).
 * This implementation gives the same results as e. g. Wolfram Alpha.
 *
 * @author Philipp Imhof
 * @param float $x the dividend
 * @param float $m the modulus
 * @return float remainder of $x modulo $m
 */
function fmod($x, $m) {
    if ($m === 0) {
        throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
    }
    return $x - $m * floor($x / $m);
}

/**
 * Calculate the probability of exactly $x successful outcomes for
 * $n trials under a binomial distribution with a probability of success
 * of $p.
 *
 * @param int $n number of trials
 * @param float $p probability of success for each trial
 * @param int $x number of successful outcomes
 *
 * @return float probability for exactly $x successful outcomes
 * @throws Exception
 */
function binomialpdf($n, $p, $x) {
    // Probability must be 0 <= p <= 1.
    if ($p < 0 || $p > 1) {
        throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
    }
    // Number of successful outcomes must be at least 0 and at most number of trials.
    if ($x < 0 || $x > $n) {
        throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
    }
    return ncr($n, $x) * $p ** $x * (1 - $p) ** ($n - $x);
}

/**
 * Calculate the probability of up to $x successful outcomes for
 * $n trials under a binomial distribution with a probability of success
 * of $p, known as the cumulative distribution function.
 *
 * @param int $n number of trials
 * @param float $p probability of success for each trial
 * @param int $x number of successful outcomes
 *
 * @return float probability for up to $x successful outcomes
 * @throws Exception
 */
function binomialcdf($n, $p, $x) {
    // Probability must be 0 <= p <= 1.
    if ($p < 0 || $p > 1) {
        throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
    }
    // Number of successful outcomes must be at least 0 and at most number of trials.
    if ($x < 0 || $x > $n) {
        throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
    }
    $res = 0;
    for ($i = 0; $i <= $x; $i++) {
        $res += binomialpdf($n, $p, $i);
    }
    return $res;
}

function npr($n, $r) {
    $n = (int)$n;
    $r = (int)$r;
    if ($r == 0 && $n == 0) {
        return 0;
    }
    return ncr($n, $r) * fact($r);
}

function ncr($n, $r) {
    $n = (int)$n;
    $r = (int)$r;
    if ($r > $n) {
        return 0;
    }
    if (($n - $r) < $r) {
        return ncr($n, ($n - $r));
    }
    $numerator = 1;
    $denominator = 1;
    for ($i = 1; $i <= $r; $i++) {
        $numerator *= ($n - $i + 1);
        $denominator *= $i;
    }
    return intdiv($numerator, $denominator);
}

function gcd($a, $b) {
    if ($a < 0) {
        $a = abs($a);
    }
    if ($b < 0) {
        $b = abs($b);
    }
    if ($a == 0 && $b == 0) {
        return 0;
    }
    if ($a == 0 || $b == 0) {
        return $a + $b;
    }
    if ($a == $b) {
        return $a;
    }
    do {
        $rest = (int) $a % $b;
        $a = $b;
        $b = $rest;
    } while ($rest > 0);
    return $a;
}

function lcm($a, $b) {
    if ($a == 0 || $b == 0) {
        return 0;
    }
    return $a * $b / gcd($a, $b);
}

function sigfig($number, $precision) {
    if ($number == 0) {
        $decimalplaces = $precision - 1;
    } else if ($number < 0) {
        $decimalplaces = $precision - floor(log10($number * -1)) - 1;
    } else {
        $decimalplaces = $precision - floor(log10($number)) - 1;
    }
    $answer = ($decimalplaces > 0) ?
            number_format($number, $decimalplaces, '.', '') : number_format(round($number, $decimalplaces), 0, '.', '');
    return $answer;
}

/**
 * format a polynomial to be display with LaTeX / MathJax
 * can also be used to force the plus sign for a single number
 * can also be used for arbitrary linear combinations
 *
 * @author Philipp Imhof
 * @param mixed $variables one variable (as a string) or a list of variables (array of strings)
 * @param mixed $coefficients one number or an array of numbers to be used as coefficients
 * @param string $forceplus symbol to be used for the normally invisible leading plus, optional
 * @param string $additionalseparator symbol to be used as separator between the terms, optional
 * @return string  the formatted string
 */
function poly($variables, $coefficients = null, $forceplus = '', $additionalseparator = '') {
    // If no variable is given and there is just one single number, simply force the plus sign
    // on positive numbers.
    if ($variables === '' && is_numeric($coefficients)) {
        if ($coefficients > 0) {
            return $forceplus . $coefficients;
        }
        return $coefficients;
    }

    $numberofterms = count($coefficients);
    // By default, we think that a final coefficient == 1 is not to be shown, because it is a true coefficient
    // and not a constant term. Also, terms with coefficient == zero should generally be completely omitted.
    $constantone = false;
    $omitzero = true;

    // If the variable is left empty, but there is a list of coefficients, we build an empty array
    // of the same size as the number of coefficients. This can be used to pretty-print matrix rows.
    // In that case, the numbers 1 and 0 should never be omitted.
    if ($variables === '') {
        $variables = array_fill(0, $numberofterms, '');
        $constantone = true;
        $omitzero = false;
    }

    // If there is just one variable, we blow it up to an array of the correct size and descending exponents.
    if (gettype($variables) === 'string' && $variables !== '') {
        // As we have just one variable, we are building a standard polynomial where the last coefficient
        // is not a real coefficient, but a constant term that has to be printed.
        $constantone = true;
        $tmp = $variables;
        $variables = array();
        for ($i = 0; $i < $numberofterms; $i++) {
            if ($i == $numberofterms - 2) {
                $variables[$i] = $tmp;
            } else if ($i == $numberofterms - 1) {
                $variables[$i] = '';
            } else {
                $variables[$i] = $tmp . '^{' . ($numberofterms - 1 - $i) . '}';
            }
        }
    }
    // If the list of variables is shorter than the list of coefficients, just start over again.
    if (count($variables) < $numberofterms) {
        $numberofvars = count($variables);
        for ($i = count($variables); $i < $numberofterms; $i++) {
            $variables[$i] = $variables[$i % $numberofvars];
        }
    }

    // If the separator is "doubled", e.g. &&, we put one half before and one half after the
    // operator. By default, we have the entire separator before the operator. Also, we do not
    // change anything if we are building a matrix row, because there are no operators. (They are signs.)
    $separatorlength = strlen($additionalseparator);
    $separatorbefore = $additionalseparator;
    $separatorafter = '';
    if ($separatorlength > 0 && $separatorlength % 2 === 0 && $omitzero) {
        $tmpbefore = substr($additionalseparator, 0, $separatorlength / 2);
        $tmpafter = substr($additionalseparator, $separatorlength / 2);
        // If the separator just has even length, but is not "doubled", we don't touch it.
        if ($tmpbefore === $tmpafter) {
            $separatorbefore = $tmpbefore;
            $separatorafter = $tmpafter;
        }
    }

    $result = '';
    // First term should not have a leading plus sign, unless user wants to force it.
    foreach ($coefficients as $i => $coef) {
        $thisseparatorbefore = ($i == 0 ? '' : $separatorbefore);
        $thisseparatorafter = ($i == 0 ? '' : $separatorafter);
        // Terms with coefficient == 0 are generally not shown. But if we use a separator, it must be printed anyway.
        if ($coef == 0) {
            if ($i > 0) {
                $result .= $thisseparatorbefore . $thisseparatorafter;
            }
            if ($omitzero) {
                continue;
            }
        }
        // Put a + or - sign according to value of coefficient and replace the coefficient
        // by its absolute value, as we don't need the sign anymore after this step.
        // If the coefficient is 0 and we force its output, do it now. However, do not put a sign,
        // as the only documented usage of this is for matrix rows and the like.
        if ($coef < 0) {
            $result .= $thisseparatorbefore . '-' . $thisseparatorafter;
            $coef = abs($coef);
        } else if ($coef > 0) {
            // If $omitzero is false, we are building a matrix row, so we don't put plus signs.
            $result .= $thisseparatorbefore . ($omitzero ? '+' : '') . $thisseparatorafter;
        }
        // Put the coefficient. If the coefficient is +1 or -1, we don't put the number,
        // unless we're at the last term. The sign is already there, so we use the absolute value.
        // Never omit 1's if building a matrix row.
        if ($coef == 1) {
            $coef = (!$omitzero || ($i == $numberofterms - 1 && $constantone) ? '1' : '');
        }
        $result .= $coef . $variables[$i];
    }
    // If the resulting string is empty (or empty with just alignment separators), add a zero at the end.
    if ($result === '' || $result === str_repeat($additionalseparator, $numberofterms - 1)) {
        $result .= '0';
    }
    // Strip leading + and replace by $forceplus (which will be '' or '+' most of the time).
    if ($result[0] == '+') {
        $result = $forceplus . substr($result, 1);
    }
    // If we have nothing but separators before the leading +, replace that + by $forceplus.
    if ($separatorbefore !== '' && preg_match("/^($separatorbefore+)\+/", $result)) {
        $result = preg_replace("/^($separatorbefore+)\+/", "\\1$forceplus", $result);
    }
    return $result;
}

/**
 * Class contains methods to parse variables text and evaluate variables. Results are stored in the $vstack
 * The functions can be roughly classified into 5 categories:
 *
 * - handle variable stack
 * - substitute number, string, function and variable name by placeholder, and the reverse functino
 * - parse and instantiate random variable
 * - evaluate assignments, general expression and numerical expression.
 * - evaluate algebraic formula
 */
class variables {
    private static $maxdataset = 2e9;      // It is the upper limit for the exhaustive enumeration.
    private static $listmaxsize = 1000;

    /* Defining legacy properties here for compatibility with PHP 8.2 */
    private $func_const = [];
    private $func_unary = [];
    private $func_binary = [];
    private $func_special = [];
    private $func_all = [];
    private $binary_op_map = [];
    private $func_algebraic = [];
    private $constlist = ['pi' => '3.14159265358979323846'];
    private $evalreplacelist = ['ln' => 'log', 'log10' => '(1./log(10.))*log'];

    private function initialize_function_list() {
        $this->func_const = array_flip( array('pi', 'fqversionnumber'));
        $this->func_unary = array_flip( array('abs', 'acos', 'acosh', 'asin', 'asinh', 'atan', 'atanh', 'ceil',
            'cos', 'cosh' , 'deg2rad', 'exp', 'expm1', 'floor', 'is_finite', 'is_infinite', 'is_nan',
            'log10', 'log1p', 'rad2deg', 'sin', 'sinh', 'sqrt', 'tan', 'tanh', 'log', 'round', 'fact',
            'stdnormpdf', 'stdnormcdf', 'decbin', 'decoct', 'octdec', 'bindec') );
        $this->func_binary = array_flip(
          array('log', 'round', 'atan2', 'fmod', 'pow', 'min', 'max', 'ncr', 'npr', 'gcd', 'lcm', 'sigfig', 'modinv')
        );
        $this->func_special = array_flip(
          array('fill', 'len', 'pick', 'sort', 'sublist', 'inv', 'map', 'sum', 'concat', 'join', 'str', 'diff', 'poly', 'normcdf',
          'modpow', 'binomialpdf', 'binomialcdf')
        );
        $this->func_all = array_merge($this->func_const, $this->func_unary, $this->func_binary, $this->func_special);
        $this->binary_op_map = array_flip(
          array('+', '-', '*', '/', '%', '>', '<', '==', '!=', '&&', '||', '&', '|', '<<', '>>', '^')
        );
        // $this->binary_op_reduce = array_flip( array('||', '&&', '==', '+', '*') );

        // Note that the implementation is exactly the same as the client so the behaviour should be the same.
        $this->func_algebraic = array_flip( array('sin', 'cos', 'tan', 'asin', 'acos', 'atan',
                                                  'exp', 'log10', 'ln', 'sqrt', 'abs', 'ceil', 'floor', 'fact'));
        // Natural log and log with base 10, no log allowed to avoid ambiguity.
    }

    public function __construct() {
        $this->initialize_function_list();
    }

    /**
     * Data structure of the variables stack object, containing:
     * - all is an array with name (key) => data (value),
     *   - data is and object contains the type information and variable value.
     * - idcounter stores the largest id of temporary variables
     *
     * Note the basic type of the variables are:
     * n: number, s: string, ln: list of number, ls: list of string, a: algebraic variable
     *
     * Note also that the type used internally are:
     * f: function that can be used for algebraic formula, F: functions that will be used internally only
     * z(n, s, ln, ls): set of (number, string, list of number, list of string),
     * zh(ln, ls): shuffle (list of number, list of string)
     * Note the type number 'n' has a "constantness" associated to it. The value is of type string if it is constant
     */

    // This function must be called to initial a variable stack, and the returned variable is required by most function.
    public function vstack_create() {
        return (object)array('idcounter' => 0, 'all' => array());
    }

    // Return a serialized string of vstack with type n, s, ln, ls. It can be reconstructed by calling evaluate_assignments().
    public function vstack_get_serialization(&$vstack) {
        $ctype = array_flip(explode(',', 'n,s,ln,ls'));
        $vstr = '';
        foreach ($vstack->all as $name => $data) {
            if (array_key_exists($data->type, $ctype)) {
                // Convert all into arrays for homogeneous treatment.
                $values = $data->type[0] == 'l' ? $data->value : array($data->value);
                if ($data->type == 's' || $data->type == 'ls') {
                    for ($i = 0; $i < mycount($values); $i++) {
                        // String has a quotation.
                        $values[$i] = '"'.$values[$i].'"';
                    }
                }
                $vstr .= $name . '=' . ($data->type[0] == 'l' ? ('['.implode(',', $values).']') : $values[0]) . ';';
            }
        }
        return $vstr;
    }

    // Return the size of sample space, or null if it is too large. The purpose of this number is to instantiate all random dataset.
    public function vstack_get_number_of_dataset(&$vstack) {
        $numdataset = 1;
        foreach ($vstack->all as $name => $data) {
            if ($data->type[0] == 'z' && $data->type[1] != 'h') {
                // The 'shuffle' is not counted, as it always have large number of permutation...
                $numdataset *= $data->value->numelement;
                if ($numdataset > self::$maxdataset) {
                    return null;
                }
            }
        }
        return $numdataset;
    }

    // Return the size of sample space, or null if it is too large. The purpose of this number is to instantiate all random dataset.
    public function vstack_get_number_of_dataset_with_shuffle(&$vstack) {
        $numdataset = 1;
        foreach ($vstack->all as $name => $data) {
            if ($data->type[0] == 'z') {
                $numdataset *= $data->value->numelement;
                if ($numdataset > self::$maxdataset) {
                    return null;
                }
            }
        }
        return $numdataset;
    }

    // Return whether there is shuffled data.
    public function vstack_get_has_shuffle(&$vstack) {
        foreach ($vstack->all as $name => $data) {
            if ($data->type[0] == 'zh') {
                return true;
            }
        }
        return false;
    }

    // Return the list of variables stored in the vstack.
    public function vstack_get_names(&$vstack) {
        return array_keys($vstack->all);
    }

    public function vstack_get_variable(&$vstack, $name) {
        return array_key_exists($name, $vstack->all) ? $vstack->all[$name] : null;
    }

    public function vstack_update_variable(&$vstack, $name, $index, $type, $value) {
        if ($index === null) {
            if ($type[0] == 'l') {  // Error check for list.
                if (!is_array($value)) {
                    throw new Exception('Unknown error. vstack_update_variable()');
                }
                if (mycount($value) < 1 || mycount($value) > self::$listmaxsize) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_size', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                if (!is_numeric($value[0]) && !is_string($value[0])) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_type', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                if ($type[1] == 'n') {
                    for ($i = 0; $i < mycount($value); $i++) {
                        if (!is_numeric($value[$i])) {
                            throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_type', 'qtype_formulas'));
                        }
                        $value[$i] = floatval($value[$i]);
                    }
                } else {
                    for ($i = 0; $i < mycount($value); $i++) {
                        if (!is_string($value[$i])) {
                            throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_type', 'qtype_formulas'));
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
            $vstack->all[$name] = (object)array('type' => $type, 'value' => $value);
        } else {
            $list = &$vstack->all[$name];
            if ($list->type[0] != 'l') {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_unsubscriptable', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $index = intval($index);
            if ($index < 0 || $index >= mycount($list->value)) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_index_out_of_range', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            if ($list->type[1] != $type) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_type', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $list->value[$index] = $type == 'n' ? floatval($value) : $value;
        }
    }

    private function vstack_mark_current_top(&$vstack) {
        return (object)array('idcounter' => $vstack->idcounter, 'sz' => mycount($vstack->all));
    }

    private function vstack_restore_previous_top(&$vstack, $previoustop) {
        $vstack->all = array_slice($vstack->all, 0, $previoustop->sz);
        $vstack->idcounter = $previoustop->idcounter;
    }

    private function vstack_add_temporary_variable(&$vstack, $type, $value) {
        $name = '@' . $vstack->idcounter;
        $this->vstack_update_variable($vstack, $name, null, $type, $value);
        $vstack->idcounter++;
        return $name;
    }

    private function vstack_clean_temporary(&$vstack) {
        $tmp = $this->vstack_create();
        foreach ($vstack->all as $name => $data) {
            if ($name[0] != '@') {
                $tmp->all[$name] = $data;
            }
        }
        return $tmp;
    }

    /**
     * These functions replace the string, number, fixed range, function and variable name by placeholder (start with @)
     * Also, the reverse substitution function also available for different situation.
     * Note that string and fixed range are not treated as placeholder, so text with them cannot be fully recovered.
     */

    // Return the text with the variables, or evaluable expressions, substituted by their values.
    public function substitute_variables_in_text(&$vstack, $text) {
        $funcpattern = '/(\{=[^{}]+\}|\{([A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_]*)(\[([0-9]+)\])?\})/';
        $results = [];
        if (is_string($text)) {
            // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
            $ts = explode("\n`", $text);     // The ` is the separator, so split it first.
        } else {
            $ts = [];
        }
        foreach ($ts as $text) {
            // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
            $splitted = explode("\n`", preg_replace($funcpattern, "\n`$1\n`", $text));
            for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
                try {
                    $expr = substr($splitted[$i], $splitted[$i][1] == '=' ? 2 : 1 , -1);
                    $res = $this->evaluate_general_expression($vstack, $expr);
                    // Skip for other type.
                    if ($res->type != 'n' && $res->type != 's') {
                        throw new Exception();
                    }
                    $splitted[$i] = $res->value;
                } catch (Exception $e) { // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
                    // Note that the expression will not be replaced if error occurs. Also, no error throw in any cases.
                }
            }
            $results[] = implode('', $splitted);
        }
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        return implode("\n`", $results);
    }

    // Return the original string by substituting back the placeholders (given by variables in $vstack) in the input $text.
    private function substitute_placeholders_in_text(&$vstack, $text) {
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace('/(@[0-9]+)/', '`$1`', $text));
        // The length will always be odd, and the placeholder is stored in odd index.
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            // Substitute back the strings.
            $splitted[$i] = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $splitted[$i])->value;
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // If substitute_variables_by_placeholders() was used for $text,
    // then this function forward the value of type 'v' to the actual variable value.
    private function substitute_vname_by_variables(&$vstack, $text) {
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace('/(@[0-9]+)/', '`$1`', $text));
        $appearedvars = array();     // Reuse the temporary variable if possible.
        // The length will always be odd, and the numbers are stored in odd index.
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            $data = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $splitted[$i]);
            if ($data->type == 'v') {
                $tmp = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $data->value);
                if ($tmp === null) {
                    throw new Exception(
                      get_string('error_vars_undefined', 'qtype_formulas', $data->value) . ' in substitute_vname_by_variables'
                    );
                }
                if (!array_key_exists($data->value, $appearedvars)) {
                    $appearedvars[$data->value] = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, $tmp->type, $tmp->value);
                }
                $splitted[$i] = $appearedvars[$data->value];
            }
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Replace the strings in the $text.
    private function substitute_strings_by_placholders(&$vstack, $text) {
        if (is_string($text)) {
            $text = stripcslashes($text);
        } else {
            $text = '';
        }
        $splitted = explode("\"", $text);
        if (mycount($splitted) % 2 == 0) {
            throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_string', 'qtype_formulas'));
        }
        foreach ($splitted as $i => &$s) {
            if ($i % 2 == 1) {
                if (strpos($s, '\'') !== false || strpos($s, "\n") !== false) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_string', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                $s = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, 's', $s);
            }
            // Characters @ and ` can't be used in the main text.
            // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
            else if (strpos($s, '@') !== false || strpos($s, '`') !== false) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_forbid_char', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Replace the fixed range of the form [a:b] in the $text by variables with new names in $tmpnames, and add it to the $vars.
    private function substitute_fixed_ranges_by_placeholders(&$vstack, $text) {
        $rangepattern = '/(\[[^\]]+:[^\]]+\])/';
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace($rangepattern, '`$1`', $text));
        // The length will always be odd, and the numbers are stored in odd index.
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            $res = $this->parse_fixed_range($vstack, substr($splitted[$i], 1, -1));
            if ($res === null) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_fixed_range', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $data = array();
            for ($z = $res->element[0]; $z < $res->element[1]; $z += $res->element[2]) {
                $data[] = $z;
                if (mycount($data) > self::$listmaxsize) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_size', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
            }
            if (mycount($data) < 1) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_size', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $splitted[$i] = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, 'ln', $data);
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Return a string with all (positive) numbers substituted by placeholders. The information of placeholders is stored in v.
    private function substitute_numbers_by_placeholders(&$vstack, $text) {
        $numpattern = '/(^|[\]\[)(}{, ?:><=~!|&%^\/*+-])(([0-9]+\.?[0-9]*|[0-9]*\.?[0-9]+)([eE][-+]?[0-9]+)?)/';
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace($numpattern, '$1`$2`', $text));
        // The length will always be odd, and the numbers are stored in odd index.
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            $splitted[$i] = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, 'n', $splitted[$i]);
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Return a string with all functions substituted by placeholders. The information of placeholders is stored in v.
    private function substitute_functions_by_placeholders(&$vstack, $text, $internal=false) {
        $funcpattern = '/([a-z][a-z0-9_]*)(\s*\()/';
        $funclists = $internal ? $this->func_all : $this->func_algebraic;
        $type = $internal ? 'F' : 'f';
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace($funcpattern, '`$1`$2', $text));
        // The length will always be odd, and the variables are stored in odd index.
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            if (!array_key_exists($splitted[$i], $funclists)) {
                continue;
            }
            $splitted[$i] = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, $type, $splitted[$i]);
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Return a string with all variables substituted by placeholders. The information of placeholders is stored in v.
    private function substitute_constants_by_placeholders(&$vstack, $text, $preserve) {
        $varpattern = '/([A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_]*)/';
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace($varpattern, '`$1`', $text));
        // The length will always be odd, and the variables are stored in odd index.
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            if (!array_key_exists($splitted[$i], $this->constlist)) {
                continue;
            }
            $constnumber = $preserve ? $splitted[$i] : $this->constlist[$splitted[$i]];
            $splitted[$i] = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, 'n', $constnumber);
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Return a string with all variables substituted by placeholders. The information of placeholders is stored in v.
    private function substitute_variables_by_placeholders(&$vstack, $text, $internal=false) {
        $varpattern = $internal ? '/([A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*)/' : '/([A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_]*)/';
        $funclists = $internal ? $this->func_all : $this->func_algebraic;
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace($varpattern, '`$1`', $text));
        // The length will always be odd, and the variables are stored in odd index.
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            if (array_key_exists($splitted[$i], $funclists)) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_reserved', 'qtype_formulas', $splitted[$i]));
            }
            $splitted[$i] = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, 'v', $splitted[$i]);
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Parse the number or range in the format of start(:stop(:interval)). return null if error.
    private function parse_fixed_range(&$vstack, $expression) {
        $ex = explode(':', $expression);
        if (mycount($ex) > 3) {
            return null;
        }
        $numpart = mycount($ex);
        for ($i = 0; $i < $numpart; $i++) {
            $ex[$i] = trim($ex[$i]);
            if (mycount($ex[$i]) == 0) {
                return null;
            }
            $v = $ex[$i][0] == '-' ? trim(substr($ex[$i], 1)) : $ex[$i]; // Get the sign of the number.
            $num = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $v);     // Num must be a constant number.
            if ($num === null || $num->type != 'n' || !is_string($num->value)) {
                return null;
            }
            $ex[$i] = strlen($ex[$i]) == strlen($v) ? floatval($num->value) : -floatval($num->value); // Multiply the sign back.
        }
        if (mycount($ex) == 1) {
            $ex = array($ex[0], $ex[0] + 0.5, 1.);
        }
        if (mycount($ex) == 2) {
            $ex = array($ex[0], $ex[1], 1.);
        }
        if ($ex[0] > $ex[1] || $ex[2] <= 0) {
            return null;
        }
        return (object)array('numelement' => ceil( ($ex[1] - $ex[0]) / $ex[2] ), 'element' => $ex, 'numpart' => $numpart);
    }

    /**
     * There are two main forms of random variables, specified in the form 'variable = expression;'
     * The first form is declared as a set of either number, string, list of number and list of string.
     * One element will be drawn from the set when instantiating. Note that it allow a range format of numbers
     * Another one is the shuffling of a list of number or string.
     * e.g. A={1,2,3}; B={1, 3:5, 8:9:.1}; C={"A","B"}; D={[1,4],[1,9]}; F=shuffle([0:10]);
     */

    // Parse the random variables $assignments for later instantiation of a dataset. Throw on parsing error.
    public function parse_random_variables($text) {
        $vstack = $this->vstack_create();
        $text = $this->substitute_strings_by_placholders($vstack, $text);
        $text = $this->trim_comments($text);
        $text = $this->substitute_numbers_by_placeholders($vstack, $text);

        // Check whether variables or some reserved variables are used, throw on error.
        $tmpvars = clone $vstack;
        $tmptext = $text;
        $tmptext = $this->substitute_functions_by_placeholders($tmpvars, $tmptext, true);
        $tmptext = $this->substitute_variables_by_placeholders($tmpvars, $tmptext, true);

        $assignments = explode(';', $text);
        foreach ($assignments as $acounter => $assignment) {
            try {
                // Split into variable name and expression.
                $ex = explode('=', $assignment, 2);
                $name = trim($ex[0]);
                if (mycount($ex) == 1 && strlen($name) == 0) {
                    continue;   // If empty assignment.
                }
                if (mycount($ex) != 2) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_syntax', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                if (!preg_match('/^[A-Za-z0-9_]+$/', $name)) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_name', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                $expression = trim($ex[1]);
                $expression = $this->substitute_fixed_ranges_by_placeholders($vstack, $expression);
                if (strlen($expression) == 0) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_syntax', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }

                // Check whether the expression contains only the valid character set.
                $var = (object)array('numelement' => 0, 'elements' => array());
                if ($expression[0] == '{') {
                    $allowableoperatorchar = '-+*/:@0-9,\s}{\]\[';  // Restricted set, prevent too many calculations.
                    // The result expression should only contains simple characters.
                    if (!preg_match('~^['.$allowableoperatorchar.']*$~', $expression)) {
                        throw new Exception(get_string('error_forbid_char', 'qtype_formulas'));
                    }

                    $bracket = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($expression, 0, '{');
                    if ($bracket === null) {
                        throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_bracket_mismatch', 'qtype_formulas'));
                    }
                    if (!($bracket->openloc == 0 && $bracket->closeloc == strlen($expression) - 1)) {
                        throw new Exception(get_string('error_syntax', 'qtype_formulas'));
                    }

                    $type = null;
                    foreach ($bracket->expressions as $i => $ele) {
                        if ($i == 0 && strpos($ele, ':') !== false) {
                            $type = 'n';
                        }
                        if ($type != 'n') {
                            $result = $this->evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively($vstack, $ele);
                            if ($i == 0) {
                                $type = $result->type;
                            }
                            if ($i > 0 && $result->type != $type) {
                                throw new Exception(get_string('error_randvars_type', 'qtype_formulas'));
                            }
                            $element = $result->value;
                            $numelement = 1;
                        }
                        if ($type == 'n') { // Special handle for number, because it can be specified as a range.
                            $result = $this->parse_fixed_range($vstack, $ele);
                            if ($result === null) {
                                throw new Exception(get_string('error_syntax', 'qtype_formulas'));
                            }
                            $element = $result->element;
                            $numelement = $result->numelement;
                        }
                        if ($i == 0) {
                            $listsize = $type[0] == 'l' ? mycount($element) : 1;
                        }
                        if ($i > 0) {
                            if (($type[0] == 'l' ? mycount($element) : 1) != $listsize) {
                                throw new Exception(get_string('error_randvars_type', 'qtype_formulas'));
                            }
                        }
                        $var->elements[] = $element;
                        $var->numelement += $numelement;
                    }
                    $type = 'z'.$type;
                } else if ( preg_match('~^shuffle\s*\(([-+*/@0-9,\s\[\]]+)\)$~', $expression, $matches) ) {
                    $result = $this->evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively($vstack, $matches[1]);
                    if ($result === null || $result->type[0] != 'l') {
                        throw new Exception(get_string('error_syntax', 'qtype_formulas'));
                    }
                    $type = 'zh'.$result->type;
                    // Factorials can get pretty big, so it is worth limiting the true count to
                    // some reasonable number, e.g. 1000.
                    $var->numelement = min(1000, fact(mycount($result->value)));
                    $var->elements = $result->value;
                } else {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_syntax', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }

                // There must be at least two elements to draw from, otherwise it is not a random variable.
                if ($var->numelement < 2) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_randvars_set_size', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                $this->vstack_update_variable($vstack, $name, null, $type, $var);
            } catch (Exception $e) {    // Append the error message by the line info.
                throw new Exception(($acounter + 1).': '.$name.': '.$e->getMessage());
            }
        }
        return $this->vstack_clean_temporary($vstack);
    }

    // Instantiate a particular variables set given by datasetid (-1 for random). Another vstack of will be returned.
    public function instantiate_random_variables(&$vstack, $datasetid = -1) {
        $numdataset = $this->vstack_get_number_of_dataset($vstack);
        $datasetid = ($datasetid >= 0 && $datasetid < self::$maxdataset) ? $datasetid % $numdataset : -1;
        $newstack = $this->vstack_create(); // The instantiated result will be stored in another vstack.
        foreach ($vstack->all as $name => $data) {
            if ( $data->type[0] == 'z') {
                $v = &$data->value;
                if ( $data->type[1] == 'h') {
                    $tmp = $v->elements;
                    shuffle($tmp);
                    $this->vstack_update_variable($newstack, $name, null, 'l'.$data->type[3], $tmp);
                } else {
                    $id = ($datasetid >= 0) ? $datasetid % $v->numelement : mt_rand(0, $v->numelement - 1);
                    $datasetid = ($datasetid >= 0) ? intval($datasetid / $v->numelement) : -1;
                    // If type is 'set_number', then pick up the correct element using following algorithm.
                    if ( $data->type[1] == 'n' ) {
                        foreach ($v->elements as $elem) {
                            $sz = ceil( ($elem[1] - $elem[0]) / $elem[2] );
                            if ( $id < $sz) {
                                $this->vstack_update_variable($newstack, $name, null, 'n', $elem[0] + $id * $elem[2]);
                                break;
                            }
                            $id -= $sz;
                        }
                    } else {
                        // Directly pick one element for type s,ln,ls.
                        $this->vstack_update_variable($newstack, $name, null, substr($data->type, 1), $v->elements[$id]);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        return $newstack;
    }

    // This function can evaluate mathematical formula, manipulate lists of number and concatenate strings
    // The $vars contains variables evaluated previously and it will return the evaluated variables in $text.
    public function evaluate_assignments($vars, $text) {
        $vstack = clone $vars;
        $text = $this->substitute_strings_by_placholders($vstack, $text);
        $text = $this->trim_comments($text);
        $text = $this->substitute_numbers_by_placeholders($vstack, $text);
        $text = $this->substitute_fixed_ranges_by_placeholders($vstack, $text);
        $text = $this->substitute_functions_by_placeholders($vstack, $text, true);
        $text = $this->substitute_variables_by_placeholders($vstack, $text, true);
        $acounter = 0;
        try {
            $this->evaluate_assignments_substituted($vstack, $text, $acounter);
        } catch (Exception $e) {
            throw new Exception($acounter.': '.$e->getMessage());
        }
        return $this->vstack_clean_temporary($vstack);
    }

    // Return the evaluated general expression by calling evaluate_assignments().
    public function evaluate_general_expression($vars, $expression) {
        $vstack = clone $vars;
        $expression = $this->substitute_strings_by_placholders($vstack, $expression);
        $expression = $this->substitute_numbers_by_placeholders($vstack, $expression);
        $expression = $this->substitute_fixed_ranges_by_placeholders($vstack, $expression);
        $expression = $this->substitute_functions_by_placeholders($vstack, $expression, true);
        $expression = $this->substitute_variables_by_placeholders($vstack, $expression, true);
        $allowableoperatorchar = '-+/*%>:^\~<?=&|!,0-9\s)(\]\[' . '@';
        // The result expression should only contains simple characters.
        if (!preg_match('~^['.$allowableoperatorchar.']*$~', $expression)) {
            throw new Exception(get_string('error_forbid_char', 'qtype_formulas'));
        }
        $expression = $this->substitute_vname_by_variables($vstack, $expression);
        return $this->evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively($vstack, $expression);
    }

    // Parse and evaluate the substituted assignments one by one.
    private function evaluate_assignments_substituted(&$vstack, $subtext, &$acounter) {
        $cursor = 0;
        while ($cursor < strlen($subtext)) {
            $acounter++;
            if ($acounter > 20000) {
                // Prevent infinite loop.
                break;
            }

            $first = $this->get_next_variable($vstack, $subtext, $cursor);
            if ($first !== null && $first->var->type == 'v' && $first->var->value == 'for') {   // Handle the for loop.
                // Get the for loop header: the variable name and the expression.
                $header = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($subtext, $first->endloc, '(');
                if ($header === null) {
                    throw new Exception('Unknown error: for loop');
                }
                $h = explode(':', implode('', $header->expressions), 2);
                if (mycount($h) == 1) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_forloop', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                $loopvar = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, trim($h[0]));
                if ($loopvar === null || $loopvar->type != 'v' || $loopvar->value[0] == '_') {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_forloop_var', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                $expression = $this->substitute_vname_by_variables($vstack, $h[1]);
                $list = $this->evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively($vstack, $expression);
                if ($list->type[0] != 'l') {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_forloop_expression', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }

                // Get the assignments in the inner for loop.
                $isopen = strpos($subtext, '{', $header->closeloc);
                // There must have no other text between the for loop and open bracket '{'.
                if ($isopen !== false) {
                    $isopen = strlen(trim(substr($subtext, $header->closeloc + 1, max(0, $isopen - $header->closeloc - 2)))) == 0;
                }
                if ($isopen === true) {
                    $bracket = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($subtext, $header->closeloc, '{');
                    $innertext = implode('', $bracket->expressions);
                    $cursor = $bracket->closeloc + 1;
                } else {
                    $nextcursor = strpos($subtext, ';', $header->closeloc);
                    // If no end separator, use all text until the end.
                    if ($nextcursor === false) {
                        $nextcursor = strlen($subtext);
                    }
                    $innertext = substr($subtext, $header->closeloc + 1, $nextcursor - $header->closeloc - 1);
                    $cursor = $nextcursor + 1;
                }

                // Loop over the assignments using loop counter one by one.
                $curacounter = $acounter + 1;
                foreach ($list->value as $e) {    // Call this function for the inner loop recursively.
                    $acounter = $curacounter;
                    $this->vstack_update_variable($vstack, $loopvar->value, null, $list->type[1], $e);
                    $this->evaluate_assignments_substituted($vstack, $innertext, $acounter);
                }
            } else {
                // Find the next assignment and then advance the cursor after the ';'.
                $nextcursor = strpos($subtext, ';', $cursor);
                // If no end separator, use all text until the end.
                if ($nextcursor === false) {
                    $nextcursor = strlen($subtext);
                }
                $assignment = substr($subtext, $cursor, $nextcursor - $cursor);
                $cursor = $nextcursor + 1;

                // Check whether the assignment contains only the valid character set.
                $allowableoperatorchar = '-+/*%>:^\~<?=&|!,0-9\s)(}{\]\[' . '@';
                // The result expression should contains simple characters only.
                if (!preg_match('~^['.$allowableoperatorchar.']*$~', $assignment)) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_forbid_char', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }

                // Split into variable name and expression.
                $ex = explode('=', $assignment, 2);
                $name = trim($ex[0]);
                if (mycount($ex) == 1 && strlen($name) == 0) {
                    continue;   // If empty assignment.
                }
                if (mycount($ex) != 2) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_syntax', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                $expression = trim($ex[1]);
                // Check variable name format.
                $nameindex = $this->get_variable_name_index($vstack, $name);
                if ($nameindex === null) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_name', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                // Check whether all variables name are defined before and then replacing them by the value.
                $expression = $this->substitute_vname_by_variables($vstack, $expression);

                // Check for algebraic variable, it must be a simple assignment.
                $result = $this->parse_algebraic_variable($vstack, $expression);
                // If it is not an algebraic variable, try to evaluate it.
                if ($result === null) {
                    $result = $this->evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively($vstack, $expression);
                }
                // Put the evaluated result into the variable name.
                $this->vstack_update_variable($vstack, $nameindex[0], $nameindex[1], $result->type, $result->value);
            }
        }
    }

    // Evaluate expression with list operation, special function and numerical expression.
    private function evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively(&$vstack, $expression) {
        $expression = trim($expression);
        // Check whether expression is empty.
        if (strlen($expression) == 0) {
            throw new Exception(get_string('error_subexpression_empty', 'qtype_formulas'));
        }
        $curtop = $this->vstack_mark_current_top($vstack);
        while (true) {
            $result = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $expression);
            if ($result != null) {
                break;
            }
            // Note that the square bracket and additional function needed to be handle recursively.
            $match = $this->handle_special_functions($vstack, $expression);
            if ($match) {
                continue;
            }
            $match = $this->handle_square_bracket_syntax($vstack, $expression);
            if ($match) {
                continue;
            }
            // Assume the expression is purely numerical and then evaluate.
            $nums = $this->evaluate_numerical_expression(array($vstack), $expression);
            $result = (object)array('type' => 'n', 'value' => $nums[0]);
            break;
        }
        $this->vstack_restore_previous_top($vstack, $curtop);
        return $result;
    }

    // Return the name and index (if any) on the left hand side of assignment. if error, return null.
    private function get_variable_name_index(&$vstack, $name) {
        if (!preg_match('/^(@[0-9]+)(\[(@[0-9]+)\])?$/', $name, $matches)) {
            return null;
        }
        $n = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $matches[1]);
        // It must be a variable name and not prefixed by "_".
        if ($n->type != 'v' || $n->value[0] == '_') {
            return null;
        }
        if (!isset($matches[3])) {
            return array($n->value, null);
        }
        $idx = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $matches[3]);
        // If it is a variable, get its value.
        if ($idx->type == 'v') {
            $idx = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $idx->value);
        }
        if ($idx->type == 'n') {
            return array($n->value, $idx->value);
        } else {
            return null;
        }
    }

    // Parse the algebraic variable, which is the same as the set of number for random variable.
    public function parse_algebraic_variable(&$vstack, $expression) {
        $expression = trim($expression);
        if (strlen($expression) == 0) {
            return null;
        }
        if ($expression[0] != '{') {
            return null;
        }
        $bracket = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($expression, 0, '{');
        if ($bracket === null) {
            throw new Exception('Unknown error: parse_algebraic_variable()');
        }
        if ($bracket->closeloc != strlen($expression) - 1) {
            throw new Exception(get_string('error_algebraic_var', 'qtype_formulas'));
        }
        $numelement = 0;
        $elements = array();
        foreach ($bracket->expressions as $e) {
            $res = $this->parse_fixed_range($vstack, $e);
            if ($res === null) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_algebraic_var', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $numelement += $res->numelement;
            $elements[] = $res->element;
        }
        return (object)array('type' => 'zn', 'value' => (object)array('numelement' => $numelement, 'elements' => $elements));
    }

    // Handle the array by replacing it by variable, if necessary, evaluate subexpression by putting it in the $vstack.
    // @return boolean of whether this syntax is found or not.
    private function handle_square_bracket_syntax(&$vstack, &$expression) {
        $res = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($expression, 0, '[');
        if ($res == null) {
            return false;
        }
        if (mycount($res->expressions) < 1 || mycount($res->expressions) > self::$listmaxsize) {
            throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_size', 'qtype_formulas'));
        }
        $list = array();
        foreach ($res->expressions as $e) {
            $list[] = $this->evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively($vstack, $e);
        }
        $data = $this->get_previous_variable($vstack, $expression, $res->openloc);
        // If the square bracket has a variable before it.
        if ($data !== null) {
            if ($data->var->type != 'ln' && $data->var->type != 'ls') {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_unsubscriptable', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            if ($list[0]->type != 'n' || mycount($list) > 1) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_index_nonnumeric', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            if ($list[0]->value < 0 || $list[0]->value >= mycount($data->var->value)) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_index_out_of_range', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $this->replace_middle(
              $vstack,
              $expression,
              $data->startloc,
              $res->closeloc + 1,
              $data->var->type[1],
              $data->var->value[$list[0]->value]
            );
            return true;
        }
        // Check the elements in the list is of the same type and then construct a new list.
        $elementtype = $list[0]->type;
        for ($i = 0; $i < mycount($list); $i++) {
            $list[$i] = $list[$i]->value;
        }
        $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $res->openloc, $res->closeloc + 1, $elementtype == 'n' ? 'ln' : 'ls', $list);
        return true;
    }

    // Handle the few function for the array of number or string
    // @return boolean of whether this syntax is found or not.
    private function handle_special_functions(&$vstack, &$expression) {
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace('/(@[0-9]+)/', '`$1`', $expression));
        $loc = 0;
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            $data = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $splitted[$i]);
            if ($data->type == 'F' && array_key_exists($data->value, $this->func_special)) {
                for ($j = 0; $j <= $i; $j++) {
                    $loc += strlen($splitted[$j]);
                }
                break;
            }
        }
        if ($loc === 0) {
            return false;
        }
        $l = $loc - strlen($splitted[$i]);

        $bracket = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($expression, $loc, '(');
        if ($bracket == null) {
            return false;
        }
        $r = $bracket->closeloc + 1;
        $types = array();
        $values = array();
        foreach ($bracket->expressions as $e) {
            $tmp = $this->evaluate_general_expression_substituted_recursively($vstack, $e);
            $types[] = $tmp->type;
            $values[] = $tmp->value;
        }
        $sz = mycount($types);
        $typestr = implode(',', $types);

        switch ($data->value) {
            case 'fill':
                if (!($sz == 2 && ($typestr == 'n,n' || $typestr == 'n,s') && is_string($values[0]))) {
                    break;
                }
                // Note that if $values[0]===string means that it is constant number.
                $N = intval($values[0]);
                if ($N < 1 || $N > self::$listmaxsize) {
                    throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_size', 'qtype_formulas'));
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 'l'.$types[1], array_fill(0, $N, $values[1]));
                return true;
            case 'len':
                // Note: type 'n' with strval is treated as constant.
                if (!($sz == 1 && $typestr[0] == 'l')) {
                    break;
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 'n', strval(mycount($values[0])));
                return true;
            case 'pick':
                if (!($sz >= 2 && $types[0] == 'n')) {
                    break;
                }
                if ($sz == 2) {
                    if ($types[1][0] != 'l') {
                        break;
                    }
                    $type = $types[1][1];
                    $pool = $values[1];
                } else {
                    $type = $types[1];
                    $pool = array($values[1]);
                    $allsametype = true;
                    for ($i = 2; $i < $sz; $i++) {
                        $allsametype = $allsametype && ($types[$i] == $type);
                        $pool[] = $values[$i];
                    }
                    if (!$allsametype) {
                        break;
                    }
                }
                // Always choose 0 if index out of range.
                $v = intval($values[0] >= 0 && $values[0] < mycount($pool) ? $values[0] : 0);
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, $type, $pool[$v]);
                return true;
            case 'sort':
                if (!($sz >= 1 && $sz <= 2 && $types[0][0] == 'l')) {
                    break;
                }
                if ($sz == 2 && $types[1][0] != 'l') {
                    break;
                }
                if ($sz == 1) {
                    // If we have one list, we duplicate it.
                    $values[1] = $values[0];
                }
                if (mycount($values[0]) != mycount($values[1])) {
                    break;
                }
                // Still here? That means we have two lists of the same size. Use the latter
                // as the sort order.
                $tmp = $values[0];
                $order = $values[1];
                uksort($tmp, function($a, $b) use ($order) {
                    $first = $order[$a];
                    $second = $order[$b];
                    // If both elements are numeric, we compare their numerical value.
                    if (is_numeric($first) && is_numeric($second)) {
                        return floatval($first) <=> floatval($second);
                    }
                    // Otherwise, we use natural sorting.
                    return strnatcmp($first, $second);
                });
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, $types[0], array_values($tmp));
                return true;
            case 'sublist':
                if (!($sz == 2 && ($typestr == 'ln,ln' || $typestr == 'ls,ln'))) {
                    break;
                }
                $sub = array();
                foreach ($values[1] as $idx) {
                    $idx = intval($idx);
                    if ($idx >= 0 && $idx < mycount($values[0])) {
                        $sub[] = $values[0][$idx];
                    } else {
                        throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_index_out_of_range', 'qtype_formulas'));
                    }
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, $types[0], $sub);
                return true;
            case 'inv':
                if (!($sz == 1 && $typestr == 'ln')) {
                    break;
                }
                $sub = $values[0];
                foreach ($values[0] as $i => $idx) {
                    $idx = intval($idx);
                    if ($idx >= 0 && $idx < mycount($values[0])) {
                        $sub[$idx] = $i;
                    } else {
                        throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_array_index_out_of_range', 'qtype_formulas'));
                    }
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 'ln', $sub);
                return true;
            case 'map':
                if (!($sz >= 2 && $sz <= 3 && $types[0] == 's')) {
                    break;
                }
                if ($sz == 2) {   // Two parameters, unary operator.
                    if (!($typestr == 's,ln')) {
                        break;
                    }
                    if (!array_key_exists($values[0], $this->func_unary)) {
                        break;
                    }
                    // Check if the function is one of our own. If it is, prepend the namespace.
                    if (is_callable(__NAMESPACE__ . '\\' . $values[0])) {
                        $values[0] = __NAMESPACE__ . '\\' . $values[0];
                    }
                    $value = array_map(
                        function ($a) use ($values) {
                            return floatval($values[0]($a));
                        }, $values[1]
                    );
                } else {
                    if (!($typestr == 's,ln,n' || $typestr == 's,n,ln' || $typestr == 's,ln,ln')) {
                        break;
                    }
                    if ($types[1] != 'ln') {
                        $values[1] = array_fill(0, mycount($values[2]), $values[1]);
                    }
                    if ($types[2] != 'ln') {
                        $values[2] = array_fill(0, mycount($values[1]), $values[2]);
                    }
                    if (array_key_exists($values[0], $this->binary_op_map)) {
                        $value = array_map(
                            function ($a, $b) use ($values) {
                                return eval('return floatval(($a)'.$values[0].'($b));');
                            }, $values[1], $values[2]);
                    } else if (array_key_exists($values[0], $this->func_binary)) {
                        // Check if the function is one of our own. If it is, prepend the namespace.
                        if (is_callable(__NAMESPACE__ . '\\' . $values[0])) {
                            $values[0] = __NAMESPACE__ . '\\' . $values[0];
                        }
                        $value = array_map(
                            function ($a, $b) use ($values) {
                                return floatval($values[0]($a, $b));
                            }, $values[1], $values[2]);
                    } else {
                        break;
                    }
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 'ln', $value);
                return true;
            case 'sum':
                if (!($sz == 1 && $typestr == 'ln')) {
                    break;
                }
                $sum = 0;
                foreach ($values[0] as $v) {
                    $sum += floatval($v);
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 'n', $sum);
                return true;
            case 'poly':
                // For backwards compatibility: if called with just a list of numbers, use x as variable.
                if (($sz == 1) && $typestr == 'ln') {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly('x', $values[0]));
                    return true;
                }
                // If called with just a number, force the plus sign (if the number is positive) to be shown.
                // Basically, there is no other reason one would call this function with just one number.
                if (($sz == 1) && $typestr == 'n') {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly('', $values[0], '+'));
                    return true;
                }
                // If called with a string and one number, combine them.
                if (($sz == 2) && $typestr == 's,n') {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly(array($values[0]), array($values[1])));
                    return true;
                }
                // Original functionality: if called with a string and a list of numbers, create a polynomial.
                if (($sz == 2) && $typestr == 's,ln') {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly($values[0], $values[1]));
                    return true;
                }
                // If called with a list of strings and a list of numbers, build a linear combination.
                if (($sz == 2) && $typestr == 'ls,ln') {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly($values[0], $values[1]));
                    return true;
                }
                // If called with a string, a number and another string, combine them while using the third argument
                // to e. g. force a "+" on positive numbers.
                if (($sz == 3) && $typestr == 's,n,s') {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly(array($values[0]), array($values[1]), $values[2]));
                    return true;
                }
                // If called with a string (or list of strings), a list of numbers and another string, combine them
                // while using the third argument as a separator, e. g. for a usage in LaTeX matrices or array-like constructions.
                if (($sz == 3) && ($typestr == 's,ln,s' || $typestr == 'ls,ln,s')) {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly($values[0], $values[1], '', $values[2]));
                    return true;
                }
                // If called with a list of numbers and a string, use x as default variable for the polynomial and use the
                // third argument as a separator, e. g. for a usage in LaTeX matrices or array-like constructions.
                if (($sz == 2) && $typestr == 'ln,s') {
                    $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', poly('x', $values[0], '', $values[1]));
                    return true;
                }
                break;
            case 'concat':
                if (!($sz >= 2 && ($types[0][0] == 'l'))) {
                    break;
                }
                $result = array();
                $haserror = false;
                foreach ($types as $i => $type) {
                    if ($type != $types[0]) {
                        $haserror = true;
                        break;
                    }
                    foreach ($values[$i] as $v) {
                        $result[] = $v;
                    }
                }
                if ($haserror) {
                    break;
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, $types[0], $result);
                return true;
            case 'join':
                if (!($sz >= 2 && $types[0] == 's')) {
                    break;
                }
                $data = array();
                for ($i = 1; $i < $sz; $i++) {
                    $data[] = $types[$i][0] == 'l' ? implode($values[0], $values[$i]) : $values[$i];
                }
                $value = join($values[0], $data);
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', $value);
                return true;
            case 'str':
                if (!($sz == 1 && $typestr == 'n')) {
                    break;
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 's', strval($values[0]));
                return true;
            case 'diff':
                if (!($typestr == 'ls,ls,n' || $typestr == 'ls,ls' || $typestr == 'ln,ln')) {
                    break;
                }
                if (mycount($values[0]) != mycount($values[1])) {
                    break;
                }
                if ($typestr == 'ln,ln') {
                    $diff = $this->compute_numerical_formula_difference($values[0], $values[1], 1.0, 0);
                } else {
                    $diff = $this->compute_algebraic_formula_difference(
                      $vstack,
                      $values[0],
                      $values[1],
                      $typestr == 'ls,ls' ? 100 : $values[2]
                    );
                }
                $this->replace_middle($vstack, $expression, $l, $r, 'ln', $diff);
                return true;
            default:
                return false;   // If no match, then the expression will be evaluated as a mathematical expression.
        }
        throw new Exception(get_string('error_func_param', 'qtype_formulas', $data->value));
    }

    /**
     * Evaluate the $expression with all variables given in the $vstacks. May throw error
     *
     * @param array $vstacks array of vstack data structure. Each vstack will be used one by one
     * @param string $expression The expression being evaluated
     * @param string $functype the function type, either 'F' for internal use, or 'f' for external use
     * @return The evaluated array of number, each number corresponds to one vstack
     */
    private function evaluate_numerical_expression($vstacks, $expression, $functype='F') {
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace('/(@[0-9]+)/', '`$1`', $expression));
        // Check and convert the vstacks into an array of array of numbers.
        $all = array_fill(0, mycount($vstacks), array());
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            $data = $vstacks[0]->all[$splitted[$i]];    // For optimization, bypassing function call.
            if ($data === null || ($data->type != 'n' && $data->type != $functype)) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            if ($data->type == $functype) {    // If it is a function, put it back into the expression.
                $splitted[$i] = $data->value;
            }
            if ($data->type == 'n') {   // If it is a number, store in $a for later evaluation.
                $all[0][$i] = floatval($data->value);
                for ($j = 1; $j < mycount($vstacks); $j++) {  // If it need to evaluate the same expression with different values.
                    $tmp = $vstacks[$j]->all[$splitted[$i]];    // For optimization, bypassing function call.
                    if ($tmp === null || $tmp->type != 'n') {
                        throw new Exception(
                          'Unexpected error! evaluate_numerical_expression(): Variables in all $vstack must be of the same type'
                        );
                    }
                    $all[$j][$i] = floatval($tmp->value);
                }
                $splitted[$i] = '$a['.$i.']';
            }
        }

        // Check for possible formula error for the substituted string, before directly calling eval().
        $replaced = $splitted;
        for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($replaced); $i += 2) {
            // Substitute a dummy value for testing.
            if ($replaced[$i][0] == '$') {
                $replaced[$i] = 1;
            }
        }
        $res = $this->find_formula_errors(implode(' ', $replaced));
        if ($res) {
            // Forward the error.
            throw new Exception($res);
        }
        // Now, it should contains pure code of mathematical expression and all numerical variables are stored in $a.
        $results = array();
        foreach ($all as $a) {
            $res = null;
            // In PHP 7 eval() terminates the script if the evaluated code generate a fatal error.
            try {
                eval('namespace ' . __NAMESPACE__ . '; $res = ' . implode(' ', $splitted) . ';');
            } catch (Throwable $t) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            if (!isset($res)) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_eval_numerical', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $results[] = floatval($res);    // Make sure it is a number, not other data type such as bool.
        }

        return $results;
    }

    // Return the list of expression inside the matching open and close bracket, otherwise null.
    // Changed to public so it can be tested from phpunit.
    public function get_expressions_in_bracket($text, $start, $open, $bset=array('(' => ')', '[' => ']', '{' => '}')) {
        $bflip = array_flip($bset);
        $ostack = array();  // Stack of open bracket.
        for ($i = $start; $i < strlen($text); $i++) {
            if ($text[$i] == $open) {
                $ostack[] = $open;
            }
            if (mycount($ostack) > 0) {
                break;     // When the first open bracket is found.
            }
        }
        if (mycount($ostack) == 0) {
            return null;
        }
        $firstopenloc = $i;
        $expressions = array();
        $ploc = $i + 1;
        for ($i = $i + 1; $i < strlen($text); $i++) {
            if (array_key_exists($text[$i], $bset)) {
                $ostack[] = $text[$i];
            }
            if ($text[$i] == ',' && mycount($ostack) == 1) {
                $expressions[] = substr($text, $ploc, $i - $ploc);
                $ploc = $i + 1;
            }
            if (array_key_exists($text[$i], $bflip)) {
                if (array_pop($ostack) != $bflip[$text[$i]]) {
                    break;
                }
            }
            if (mycount($ostack) == 0) {
                $expressions[] = substr($text, $ploc, $i - $ploc);
                return (object)array('openloc' => $firstopenloc, 'closeloc' => $i, 'expressions' => $expressions);
            }
        }
        throw new Exception(get_string('error_vars_bracket_mismatch', 'qtype_formulas'));
    }

    // Get the variable immediately before the location $loc.
    private function get_previous_variable(&$vstack, $text, $loc) {
        if (!preg_match('/((@[0-9]+)\s*)$/', substr($text, 0, $loc), $m)) {
            return null;
        }
        $var = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $m[2]);
        if ($var === null) {
            return null;
        }
        return (object)array('startloc' => $loc - strlen($m[1]), 'var' => $var);
    }

    // Get the variable immediately at and after the location $loc (inclusive).
    private function get_next_variable(&$vstack, $text, $loc) {
        if (!preg_match('/^(\s*(@[0-9]+))/', substr($text, $loc), $m)) {
            return null;
        }
        $var = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $m[2]);
        if ($var === null) {
            return null;
        }
        return (object)array('startloc' => $loc + (strlen($m[1]) - strlen($m[2])), 'endloc' => $loc + strlen($m[1]), 'var' => $var);
    }

    // Replace the expression[left..right] by the variable with $value.
    private function replace_middle(&$vstack, &$expression, $left, $right, $type, $value) {
        $name = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, $type, $value);
        $expression = substr($expression, 0, max(0, $left)) . $name . substr($expression, $right);
    }

    // Remove the user comments, that is the string between # and the end of line.
    private function trim_comments($text) {
        return preg_replace('/'.chr(35).'.*$/m', "\n", $text);
    }

    // Return the information of the formula by substituting numbers, variables and functions.
    public function get_formula_information($vars, $text) {
        // Formula can only contains these characters.
        if (!preg_match('/^[A-Za-z0-9._ )(^\/*+-]*$/', $text)) {
            return null;
        }
        $vstack = clone $vars;
        $sub = $text;
        $sub = $this->substitute_numbers_by_placeholders($vstack, $sub);
        $sub = $this->substitute_functions_by_placeholders($vstack, $sub);
        $sub = $this->substitute_constants_by_placeholders($vstack, $sub, false);
        $sub = $this->substitute_variables_by_placeholders($vstack, $sub);
        $vstack->lengths = array_fill_keys(explode(',', 'n,v,F,f,s,ln,ls,zn'), 0);
        foreach ($vstack->all as $data) {
            $vstack->lengths[$data->type]++;
        }
        $vstack->original = $text;
        $vstack->sub = $sub;
        $vstack->remaining = preg_replace('/@[0-9]+/', '', $sub);
        return $vstack;
    }

    // Split the input into number/numeric/numerical formula and unit.
    public function split_formula_unit($text) {
        // Note: these symbols is reserved to split str.
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        if (preg_match('/[`@]/', $text)) {
            return array('', $text);
        }
        $vstack = $this->vstack_create();
        $sub = $text;
        $sub = $this->substitute_numbers_by_placeholders($vstack, $sub);
        $sub = $this->substitute_functions_by_placeholders($vstack, $sub);
        $sub = $this->substitute_constants_by_placeholders($vstack, $sub, true);
        // Split at the point that does not contain characters @ 0-9 + - * / ^ ( ) space.
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $spl = explode('`', preg_replace('/([^@0-9 )(^\/*+-])(.*)$/', '`$1$2', $sub));
        $num = $this->substitute_placeholders_in_text($vstack, $spl[0]);
        $unit = (!isset($spl[1])) ? '' : $this->substitute_placeholders_in_text($vstack, $spl[1]);
        return array($num, $unit);  // Don't trim them, otherwise the recombination may differ by a space.
    }

    // Translate the input formula $text into the corresponding evaluable mathematical formula in php.
    public function replace_evaluation_formula(&$vstack, $text) {
        $text = $this->insert_multiplication_for_juxtaposition($vstack, $text);
        $text = $this->replace_caret_by_power($vstack, $text);
        $text = preg_replace('/\s*([)(\/*+-])\s*/', '$1', $text);
        return $text;
    }

    // Replace the user input function in the vstack by another function.
    public function replace_vstack_variables($vstack, $replacementlist) {
        $res = clone $vstack;   // The $vstack->all will be used so it needs to clone deeply.
        foreach ($res->all as $name => $v) {
            if (is_string($v->value)) {
                $res->all[$name] = (object)array(
                    'type' => $v->type,
                    'value' => array_key_exists($v->value, $replacementlist) ? $replacementlist[$v->value] : $v->value
                );
            }
        }
        return $res;
    }

    // Insert the multiplication symbol whenever juxtaposition occurs.
    public function insert_multiplication_for_juxtaposition($vstack, $text) {
        // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
        $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace('/(@[0-9]+)/', '`$1`', $text));
        // The length will always be odd: placeholder in odd index, operators in even index.
        for ($i = 3; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
            // The operator(s) between this and the previous variable.
            $op = trim($splitted[$i - 1]);
            if ($this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $splitted[$i - 2])->type == 'f') {
                // No need to add '*' if the left is function.
                continue;
            }
            if (strlen($op) == 0) {
                // Add multiplication if no operator.
                $op = ' * ';
            } else if ($op[0] == '(') {
                $op = ' * '.$op;
            } else if ($op[strlen($op) - 1] == ')') {
                $op = $op.' * ';
            } else {
                $op = preg_replace('/^(\))(\s*)(\()/', '$1 * $3', $op);
            }
            $splitted[$i - 1] = $op;
        }
        return implode('', $splitted);
    }

    // Replace the expression x^y by pow(x, y).
    public function replace_caret_by_power($vstack, $text) {
        while (true) {
            $loc = strrpos($text, '^');    // From right to left.
            if ($loc === false) {
                break;
            }

            // Search for the expression of the exponent.
            $rloc = $loc;
            if ($rloc + 1 < strlen($text) && $text[$rloc + 1] == '-') {
                $rloc += 1;
            }
            $r = $this->get_next_variable($vstack, $text, $rloc + 1);
            if ($r != null) {
                $rloc = $r->endloc - 1;
            }
            if ($r == null || ($r != null && $r->var->type == 'f')) {
                $rtmp = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($text, $rloc + 1, '(', array('(' => ')'));
                if ($rtmp == null || $rtmp->openloc != $rloc + 1) {
                    throw new Exception('Expression expected');
                }
                $rloc = $rtmp->closeloc;
            }

            // Search for the expression of the base.
            $lloc = $loc;
            $l = $this->get_previous_variable($vstack, $text, $loc);
            if ($l != null) {
                $lloc = $l->startloc;
            } else {
                $reverse = strrev($text);
                $ltmp = $this->get_expressions_in_bracket($reverse, strlen($text) - 1 - $loc + 1, ')', array(')' => '('));
                if ($ltmp == null || $ltmp->openloc != strlen($text) - 1 - $loc + 1) {
                    throw new Exception('Expression expected');
                }
                $lfunc = $this->get_previous_variable($vstack, $text, strlen($text) - 1 - $ltmp->closeloc);
                $lloc = ($lfunc == null || $lfunc->var->type != 'f') ? strlen($text) - 1 - $ltmp->closeloc : $lfunc->startloc;
            }

            // Replace the exponent notation by the pow function.
            $name = $this->vstack_add_temporary_variable($vstack, 'f', 'pow');
            $text = substr($text, 0, $lloc) . $name . '(' . substr($text, $lloc, $loc - $lloc) . ', '
                . substr($text, $loc + 1, $rloc - $loc) . ')' . substr($text, $rloc + 1);
        }
        return $text;
    }

    // Return the float value of number, numeric, or numerical formula, null when format incorrect.
    public function compute_numerical_formula_value($str, $gradingtype) {
        $info = $this->get_formula_information($this->vstack_create(), $str);
        // If the students' formula contains any disallowed characters.
        if ($info === null) {
            return null;
        }
        try {
            if ($gradingtype == 100) {        // For numerical formula format.
                if (preg_match('/^[ )(^\/*+-]*$/', $info->remaining) == false) {
                    return null;
                }
                if (!($info->lengths['v'] == 0)) {
                    return null;
                }
                $info = $this->replace_vstack_variables($info, $this->evalreplacelist);
                $tmp = $this->replace_evaluation_formula($info, $info->sub);
                $nums = $this->evaluate_numerical_expression(array($info), $tmp, 'f');
                return $nums[0];
            } else if ($gradingtype == 10) {  // For numeric format.
                if (preg_match('/^[ )(^\/*+-]*$/', $info->remaining) == false) {
                    return null;
                }
                if (!($info->lengths['v'] == 0 && $info->lengths['f'] == 0)) {
                    return null;
                }
                $info = $this->replace_vstack_variables($info, $this->evalreplacelist);
                $tmp = $this->replace_evaluation_formula($info, $info->sub);
                $nums = $this->evaluate_numerical_expression(array($info), $tmp, 'f');
                return $nums[0];
            } else {  // When $gradingtype != {10, 100, 1000}, for unknown type, all are treated as number.
                if (preg_match('/^[-+]?@0$/', $info->sub) == false) {
                    return null;
                }
                if (!($info->lengths['v'] == 0 && $info->lengths['f'] == 0 && $info->lengths['n'] == 1)) {
                    return null;
                }
                return floatval($str);
            }
        } catch (Exception $e) {
            return null; // Any error means that the $str cannot be evaluated to a number.
        }
    }

    // Find the numerical value of students response $B and compute the difference between the modelanswer and students response.
    public function compute_numerical_formula_difference(&$A, &$B, $cfactor, $gradingtype) {
        $diffs = array();
        for ($i = 0; $i < mycount($B); $i++) {
            $value = $this->compute_numerical_formula_value($B[$i], $gradingtype);
            // If the coordinate cannot convert to a number.
            if ($value === null) {
                return null;
            }
            $B[$i] = $value * $cfactor;         // Rescale students' response to match unit of model answer.
            $diffs[$i] = abs($A[$i] - $B[$i]);  // Calculate the difference between students' response and model answer.
            if (is_nan($A[$i])) {
                $A[$i] = INF;
            }
            if (is_nan($B[$i])) {
                $B[$i] = INF;
            }
            if (is_nan($diffs[$i])) {
                $diffs[$i] = INF;
            }
        }
        return $diffs;
    }

    // Compute the average L1-norm between $A and $B, evaluated at $N random points given by the random variables in $vars.
    public function compute_algebraic_formula_difference(&$vars, $A, $B, $N=100) {
        if ($N < 1) {
            $N = 100;
        }
        $diffs = array();
        for ($idx = 0; $idx < mycount($A); $idx++) {
            if (!is_string($A[$idx]) || !is_string($B[$idx])) {
                return null;
            }
            $A[$idx] = trim($A[$idx]);
            $B[$idx] = trim($B[$idx]);
            if (strlen($A[$idx]) == 0 || strlen($B[$idx]) == 0) {
                return null;
            }
            $AsubB = 'abs('.$A[$idx].'-('.$B[$idx].'))';
            $info = $this->get_formula_information($vars, $AsubB);
            if ($info === null) {
                return null;
            }
            if (preg_match('/^[ )(^\/*+-]*$/', $info->remaining) == false) {
                return null;
            }
            $info = $this->replace_vstack_variables($info, $this->evalreplacelist);
            $d = $this->replace_evaluation_formula($info, $info->sub);
            $d = $this->substitute_vname_by_variables($info, $d);

            // Create a vstack contains purely the variables that appears in the formula.
            // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
            $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace('/(@[0-9]+)/', '`$1`', $d));
            $vstack = $this->vstack_create();
            for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
                $data = $this->vstack_get_variable($info, $splitted[$i]);
                if ($data === null || ($data->type != 'f' && $data->type != 'n' && $data->type != 'zn')) {
                    return null;
                }
                // If it is a function, put it back into the expression.
                if ($data->type == 'f') {
                    $splitted[$i] = $data->value;
                }
                if ($data->type == 'n' || $data->type == 'zn') {
                    // Don't add other temp variable!
                    $this->vstack_update_variable($vstack, $splitted[$i], null, $data->type, $data->value);
                }
            }
            $newexpr = trim(implode('', $splitted));

            // Create the vstack for different realization of algebraic variable.
            $vstacks = array();
            for ($z = 0; $z < $N; $z++) {
                $vstacks[$z] = clone $vstack;
                $instantiation = $this->instantiate_random_variables($vstack);
                foreach ($instantiation->all as $name => $inst) {
                    $this->vstack_update_variable($vstacks[$z], $name, null, 'n', $inst->value);
                }
            }

            // Evaluate and find the root mean square of the difference over all instantiation.
            if (strlen($newexpr) == 0) {
                return null;
            }
            $nums = $this->evaluate_numerical_expression($vstacks, $newexpr, 'f');
            for ($i = 0; $i < mycount($nums); $i++) {
                $nums[$i] = $nums[$i] * $nums[$i];
            }
            $res = sqrt(array_sum($nums) / $N);    // It must be a positive integer, Nan or inf.
            if (is_nan($res)) {
                $res = INF;
            }
            $diffs[] = $res;
        }
        return $diffs;
    }

    // Substitute the variable with numeric value in the list of algebraic formulas,
    // it is used to show correct answer with random numeric value.
    public function substitute_partial_formula(&$vars, $formulas) {
        $res = array();
        for ($idx = 0; $idx < mycount($formulas); $idx++) {
            // Internal error for calling this function.
            if (!is_string($formulas[$idx])) {
                return null;
            }
            $formulas[$idx] = trim($formulas[$idx]);
            $vstack = $this->get_formula_information($vars, $formulas[$idx]);
            if ($vstack === null || preg_match('/^[ )(^\/*+-]*$/', $vstack->remaining) == false) {
                throw new Exception(get_string('error_forbid_char', 'qtype_formulas'));
            }
            $vstack = $this->replace_vstack_variables($vstack, $this->evalreplacelist);

            // Replace the variable with numeric value by the number.
            // @codingStandardsIgnoreLine
            $splitted = explode('`', preg_replace('/(@[0-9]+)/', '`$1`', $vstack->sub));
            for ($i = 1; $i < mycount($splitted); $i += 2) {
                $data = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $splitted[$i]);
                if ($data->type == 'v') {
                    $tmp = $this->vstack_get_variable($vstack, $data->value);
                    if ($tmp === null) {
                        throw new Exception(
                          get_string('error_vars_undefined', 'qtype_formulas', $data->value) . ' in substitute_partial_formula'
                        );
                    }
                    if ($tmp->type == 'n') {
                        $data = $tmp;
                    }
                }
                $splitted[$i] = $data->value;
            }
            $res[] = implode('', $splitted);
        }
        return $res;
    }

    /**
     * Check the validity of formula. From calculated question type. Modified.
     *
     * @param string $formula The input formula
     * @return false for possible valid formula, otherwise error message
     */
    public function find_formula_errors($formula) {
        // Validates the formula submitted from the question edit page.
        // Returns false if everything is alright.
        // Otherwise it constructs an error message
        // Strip away empty space and lowercase it.
        $formula = str_replace(' ', '', $formula);

        $safeoperatorchar = '-+/*%>:^\~<?=&|!'; /* */
        $operatorornumber = "[$safeoperatorchar.0-9eE]";

        while (
          preg_match(
            "~(^|[$safeoperatorchar,(])([a-z0-9_]*)\\(($operatorornumber+(,$operatorornumber+(,$operatorornumber+((,$operatorornumber+)+)?)?)?)?\\)~",
            $formula,
            $regs
          )
        ) {
            for ($i = 0; $i < 7; $i++) {
                if (!isset($regs[$i])) {
                    $regs[] = '';
                }
            }
            switch ($regs[2]) {
                // Simple parenthesis.
                case '':
                    if (strlen($regs[4]) != 0 || strlen($regs[3]) == 0) {
                        return get_string('illegalformulasyntax', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[0]);
                    }
                    break;

                // Zero argument functions.
                case 'fqversionnumber':
                case 'pi':
                    if (strlen($regs[3]) != 0) {
                        return get_string('functiontakesnoargs', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[2]);
                    }
                    break;

                // Single argument functions (the most common case).
                case 'abs':
                case 'acos':
                case 'acosh':
                case 'asin':
                case 'asinh':
                case 'atan':
                case 'atanh':
                case 'bindec':
                case 'ceil':
                case 'cos':
                case 'cosh':
                case 'decbin':
                case 'decoct':
                case 'deg2rad':
                case 'exp':
                case 'expm1':
                case 'floor':
                case 'is_finite':
                case 'is_infinite':
                case 'is_nan':
                case 'log10':
                case 'log1p':
                case 'octdec':
                case 'rad2deg':
                case 'sin':
                case 'sinh':
                case 'sqrt':
                case 'tan':
                case 'tanh':
                case 'fact':
                case 'stdnormpdf':
                case 'stdnormcdf':
                    if (strlen($regs[4]) != 0 || strlen($regs[3]) == 0) {
                        return get_string('functiontakesonearg', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[2]);
                    }
                    break;

                // Functions that take one or two arguments.
                case 'log':
                case 'round':
                    if (strlen($regs[5]) != 0 || strlen($regs[3]) == 0) {
                        return get_string('functiontakesoneortwoargs', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[2]);
                    }
                    break;

                // Functions that must have two arguments.
                case 'atan2':
                case 'fmod':
                case 'pow':
                case 'ncr':
                case 'npr':
                case 'lcm':
                case 'gcd':
                case 'sigfig':
                case 'modinv':
                    if (strlen($regs[5]) != 0 || strlen($regs[4]) == 0) {
                        return get_string('functiontakestwoargs', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[2]);
                    }
                    break;

                // Functions that take two or more arguments.
                case 'min':
                case 'max':
                    if (strlen($regs[4]) == 0) {
                        return get_string('functiontakesatleasttwo', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[2]);
                    }
                    break;

                // Functions that take three arguments.
                case 'normcdf':
                case 'binomialpdf':
                case 'binomialcdf':
                case 'modpow':
                    if (strlen($regs[6]) != 0 || strlen($regs[5]) == 0) {
                        return get_string('functiontakesthreeargs', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[2]);
                    }
                    break;

                default:
                    return get_string('unsupportedformulafunction', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[2]);
            }

            // Exchange the function call with '1' and then check for
            // another function call...
            if ($regs[1]) {
                // The function call is proceeded by an operator.
                $formula = str_replace($regs[0], $regs[1] . '1', $formula);
            } else {
                // The function call starts the formula.
                $formula = preg_replace("~^$regs[2]\\([^)]*\\)~", '1', $formula);
            }
        }

        if (preg_match("~[^$safeoperatorchar.0-9eE]+~", $formula, $regs)) {
            return get_string('illegalformulasyntax', 'qtype_formulas', $regs[0]);
        } else {
            // Formula just might be valid.
            return false;
        }

    }
}