THE BEST MATH APP FOR YOUR CLASS | Mathway vs Photomath vs Socratic

your math tutor
31 Mar 202113:48

TLDRThis video reviews three popular math apps—Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic—testing their ability to solve problems from algebra to calculus. Mathway offers solutions but requires a premium subscription for steps. Photomath impresses with clear, free step-by-step guidance, excelling in algebra and calculus. Socratic, Google's app, provides free explanations and resources but struggles with geometry and higher-level math, making Photomath the top choice for comprehensive math assistance.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic are three popular math apps that can solve math problems by analyzing photos or text input.
  • 🌟 Mathway has a high rating on app stores but requires a premium subscription to view steps for solving problems, which can be a limitation for students.
  • 🔍 Photomath excels in recognizing problems and providing step-by-step solutions for free, even for complex problems like calculus, making it a strong contender.
  • 📐 Socratic, developed by Google, offers explanations and links to other resources but sometimes struggles with recognizing and solving more advanced math problems.
  • 💡 The review tests the apps with problems ranging from algebra to calculus to assess their effectiveness across different math levels.
  • 📈 Mathway's recognition of problems is good, but the lack of step-by-step solutions in the free version can be frustrating for students needing guidance.
  • 📚 Photomath's ability to provide detailed steps for free, even when problems are not from textbooks, sets it apart from other apps.
  • 🤖 Socratic uses Google's AI technology to search for solutions and provide explanations, but its reliance on external sites can be a double-edged sword.
  • 🚫 Geometry problems and diagrams seem to be a challenge for all apps, with Mathway failing to recognize them and Photomath struggling with non-textbook problems.
  • 📉 Socratic's performance declines with more advanced subjects, particularly in pre-calculus and calculus, where it fails to provide clear solutions.
  • 🏆 Overall, Photomath is favored for its ease of use and comprehensive, free explanations, while Mathway and Socratic have their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Q & A

  • What are the three math apps being reviewed in the video?

    -The three math apps being reviewed are Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic.

  • What is the main feature of these math apps?

    -The main feature of these apps is the ability to take a photo of a math problem and have the app read and solve it.

  • What is the rating of Mathway on the Google App Store and Apple App Store?

    -Mathway has a 4.5 rating on the Google App Store and a 4.9 rating on the Apple App Store.

  • What is the issue with Mathway's free version when it comes to showing steps for solving problems?

    -The free version of Mathway shows the answer to the problem but does not display the steps to solve it unless you upgrade to a premium license.

  • How does Photomath handle showing steps for solving math problems?

    -Photomath shows steps for solving math problems for free, but it does not recognize problems from textbooks unless they are copied and pasted into a document.

  • What is special about Photomath's approach to solving algebra 2 and trigonometry problems?

    -Photomath provides clear steps and explanations for algebra 2 and trigonometry problems, even offering a free version that shows more than the free version of Mathway.

  • What is the unique feature of Socratic in terms of its approach to math problems?

    -Socratic uses Google's powerful AI technology to search for and provide explanations from various websites and apps, offering a range of solutions to understand the problem better.

  • How does Socratic perform with geometry problems according to the review?

    -Socratic did not perform well with geometry problems, as it failed to recognize the specific angles and instead provided unrelated information about maps and geography.

  • What is the reviewer's final ranking of the math apps based on their performance?

    -The reviewer ranks Photomath at the top, followed by Mathway, and then Socratic at the bottom due to its inability to recognize some of the harder subjects like matrices and precalculus.

  • What advice does the reviewer give regarding the use of these math apps?

    -The reviewer advises that while these apps are great tools for homework help, they should not be used to simply copy down answers or cheat on tests.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Math App Review: Testing Popular Apps

The script begins with an introduction to a review of three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic. The purpose is to evaluate their effectiveness in solving math problems by taking photos. The apps are tested with problems ranging from algebra to calculus. The first app, Mathway, is free but requires a premium subscription to view solution steps, which is a drawback for students. The reviewer highlights the app's recognition of problems but criticizes the lack of step-by-step guidance in the free version.

05:03

🔍 In-Depth Analysis of Photomath and Socratic

The second paragraph delves into the features and performance of Photomath and Socratic. Photomath impresses with its ability to recognize textbook problems and provide detailed step-by-step solutions, even offering free access to steps by copying and pasting questions. However, it struggles with geometry problems from textbooks. Socratic, developed by Google, offers a unique approach by linking to external sites for problem-solving, providing a variety of explanations. While it excels in algebra, it falters in higher-level math, particularly with geometry and pre-calculus.

10:06

🏆 Ranking the Math Apps and Final Thoughts

In the final paragraph, the reviewer ranks the math apps based on their performance. Photomath takes the top spot due to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive explanations, most of which are free. Mathway follows, recognized for its problem-solving capabilities but criticized for requiring payment to access steps. Socratic ends up last, as it initially shows promise with algebra but fails to recognize and solve more complex problems without relying on external sites. The script concludes with a reminder that these apps should be used as tools for learning, not for cheating, and invites viewers to share feedback and suggestions for future reviews.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Math Apps

Math Apps are software applications designed to assist users, particularly students, in solving mathematical problems. In the video, three popular math apps—Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic—are reviewed for their effectiveness in reading and solving a range of math problems. The apps are tested on their ability to provide solutions and, more importantly, the steps involved in solving problems, which is crucial for educational purposes.

💡Algebra 1

Algebra 1 is a high school mathematics course that introduces students to basic algebraic concepts, including solving linear equations and inequalities. In the context of the video, Algebra 1 problems are used to evaluate how well the math apps can solve and explain foundational math concepts, such as solving for a variable in a linear equation.

💡Photomath

Photomath is one of the math apps reviewed in the video. It is known for its ability to scan and solve math problems. The app stands out for providing detailed step-by-step solutions for most problems, even offering free access to these solutions in some cases, which is highly beneficial for educational purposes as it helps students understand the problem-solving process.

💡Socratic

Socratic is an educational app developed by Google, which aims to assist with various subjects, including math. In the video, Socratic is tested for its math problem-solving capabilities. It is noted for its use of AI technology and for linking to external resources that provide answers and explanations, although it sometimes falls short in directly recognizing and solving complex problems.

💡Geometry

Geometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with shapes, sizes, and properties of space. In the script, Geometry problems are used to test the apps' ability to interpret diagrams and solve for angles using angle pair relationships. The effectiveness of the apps in handling Geometry problems is a measure of their ability to assist with spatial reasoning and diagrammatic math problems.

💡Trigonometry

Trigonometry, often referred to as Trig, is a mathematical discipline that deals with the relationships between angles and lengths in triangles. The video script mentions testing the apps with trigonometric identities, which are equations that are true for all values of the variables involved. This tests the apps' ability to verify and explain trigonometric concepts.

💡Pre-Calculus

Pre-Calculus is a math course that covers topics typically preceding calculus, such as functions, matrices, and sequences. In the video, the app's ability to solve Pre-Calculus problems, specifically matrix identification and operations, is evaluated, demonstrating the apps' capabilities in handling more advanced mathematical concepts.

💡Calculus

Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, derivatives, and integrals. The video tests the apps' ability to solve calculus problems, such as indefinite integrals using integration by parts, which is a method requiring understanding of the fundamental theorem of calculus. This showcases the apps' capacity to handle complex problem-solving in higher-level math.

💡Premium Subscription

A premium subscription is a service model where users pay a fee to access advanced features or content that is not available in the free version of an app. In the context of the video, Mathway requires a premium subscription to view steps and explanations for solving math problems, which is a point of contention as it may hinder educational access for those unable to pay.

💡Integration by Parts

Integration by parts is a technique in calculus used to evaluate integrals of products of functions. The video script discusses the apps' ability to perform this method, showing the steps involved in the process. This is an important feature for a math app as it demonstrates the app's capacity to handle complex calculus problems and explain the solution process.

Highlights

Review of three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic.

Mathway, a free app by Chegg, offers solutions but requires a premium subscription for steps.

Photomath excels in recognizing and solving math problems with detailed steps available for free.

Socratic, by Google, provides step-by-step solutions and additional learning resources.

Mathway struggles with geometry problems and requires a premium subscription for detailed steps.

Photomath successfully solves geometry problems and provides clear explanations.

Socratic has difficulty with geometry but offers external links for further assistance.

Mathway's premium version is necessary for accessing steps in algebra 2 and trigonometry problems.

Photomath offers free and detailed steps for algebra 2 and trigonometry, even identifying textbook problems.

Socratic's performance varies, sometimes requiring external sources for complete solutions.

Mathway's free version is limited in pre-calculus, only identifying problems without providing steps.

Photomath stands out in pre-calculus, offering detailed step-by-step solutions.

Socratic struggles with pre-calculus, often failing to recognize or solve problems directly.

In calculus, Mathway provides some steps but lacks detailed work shown in its free version.

Photomath delivers comprehensive solutions for calculus problems, including integration by parts.

Socratic finds solutions for calculus through external forums, but its own recognition is inconsistent.

The review concludes with a recommendation of Photomath as the top math app due to its comprehensive and free solutions.

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