Photomath
AI math solver - photograph a problem and get step-by-step solutions; acquired by Google; covers arithmetic through calculus; free and $9.99/month.
Photomath is a mobile app for iOS and Android that lets students photograph or type math problems and receive step-by-step solutions with explanations and visual aids. It covers arithmetic through college-level calculus, trigonometry, and statistics, and was one of the first apps to use computer vision for real-time mathematical expression recognition. Launched in 2014 by Microblink in Zagreb, Croatia, Photomath accumulated hundreds of millions of downloads before Google completed its acquisition (announced May 2022, approved by the European Commission March 2023, finalized February/March 2024). The app remains available on the App Store and Google Play as a standalone product with a free tier and a Plus subscription at $9.99/month or $69.99/year.
Key Features
- Camera-based math scanning - point the phone camera at any printed or handwritten problem for instant recognition
- Step-by-step solution breakdowns with written explanations for each step, not just the final answer
- Multiple solution methods shown side-by-side when available (e.g., factoring vs. quadratic formula vs. completing the square)
- Smart calculator for manual problem entry with a full scientific keypad for complex expressions
- Custom visual aids - dynamically generated graphs, diagrams, and number lines alongside solutions
- "How" and "Why" contextual tips explaining the underlying mathematical reasoning behind each operation
- Coverage from basic arithmetic through algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and statistics
Use Cases
- Middle and high school students checking homework answers and understanding where they went wrong step-by-step
- College students working through calculus and trigonometry problem sets who need to understand the solution process, not just the answer
- Parents helping children with math homework when they don't remember the procedure themselves
- Teachers using Photomath to quickly generate worked examples and step-by-step explanations for classroom walkthroughs
Pros
- Camera recognition of handwritten math is best-in-class - Photomath's decade of training data gives it the most accurate handwriting recognition in any math app
- Step-by-step explanations with "Why" contextual tips teach the method, not just the answer - superior educational value to a calculator
- Google ownership provides long-term infrastructure support and integration potential with Google Classroom and Workspace for Education
Cons
- Google acquisition creates uncertainty about the app's long-term standalone status - it may eventually be absorbed into Google's Workspace for Education suite
- Plus subscription at $9.99/month is expensive for a single subject tool, especially when free competitors like Wolfram Alpha cover similar ground
- AI-generated step-by-step explanations occasionally contain errors for advanced calculus and statistics problems - users must verify answers independently
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