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

your math tutor
31 Mar 202113:48

TLDRThis video review compares three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic. Each app's ability to solve and explain math problems across various levels, from algebra to calculus, is tested. Mathway offers solutions but requires a subscription for step-by-step guidance. Photomath impresses with detailed free explanations, though textbook problems may require payment. Socratic, powered by Google, provides free step-by-step solutions and additional resources but struggles with more complex subjects. The verdict: Photomath excels in clarity and depth, followed by Mathway, with Socratic lagging in higher-level math recognition.

Takeaways

  • 📚 The video compares three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic, testing their ability to solve math problems from algebra to calculus.
  • 🔍 Mathway offers a free app with a high rating but requires a premium subscription to view solution steps, which can be a limitation for students.
  • 📈 Photomath stands out for its ability to recognize textbook problems and provide detailed solution steps for free, making it a strong contender in the review.
  • 🤖 Socratic, developed by Google, uses AI technology to assist with various subjects, including math, but its performance varies across different math levels.
  • 📱 All apps allow users to input math problems through typing, photo, or voice, enhancing accessibility for different user preferences.
  • 🚫 Mathway struggles with geometry problems and diagrams, indicating a potential area for improvement in its problem-solving capabilities.
  • 📖 Photomath's recognition of textbook problems can be both a strength and a limitation, as it sometimes requires workarounds to access free step-by-step solutions.
  • 🧩 Socratic's approach to linking to external resources for solutions can be helpful but may not always provide the direct answers or steps that users are looking for.
  • 💰 The review highlights the balance between free features and premium services, with implications for students' access to educational tools.
  • 📉 Socratic's performance declines in higher-level math subjects like pre-calculus and calculus, where it fails to provide clear solutions or steps.
  • 🏆 In conclusion, Photomath is favored for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive free solutions, while Mathway and Socratic have their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Q & A

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

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

  • What is the main feature of these math apps according to the script?

    -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 Chegg known for according to the reviewer's past experience?

    -According to the reviewer, Chegg was known as a place where people uploaded answer keys and tests from previous years.

  • What is the issue with Mathway's free version when trying to view solution steps?

    -The issue with Mathway's free version is that it does not show the steps to the solutions unless you upgrade to a premium license for a monthly fee.

  • How does Photomath handle textbook problems regarding the display of solution steps?

    -Photomath recognizes textbook problems and requires a payment to view steps. However, if the same question is typed or pasted into a document, it shows the steps for free without recognizing it's from a textbook.

  • What is the reviewer's opinion on Socratic's handling of math problems?

    -The reviewer initially liked Socratic for algebra due to its step-by-step explanations without payment. However, for more complex subjects like matrices and pre-calculus, Socratic was the least favorite as it often failed to recognize or solve the problems.

  • What does Socratic provide in addition to solving the problem in algebra?

    -In addition to solving the problem, Socratic provides info cards with key concepts, related videos from YouTube, and other similar questions from the internet.

  • How does the reviewer describe the overall usefulness of the apps for homework?

    -The reviewer describes the apps as incredible and great tools to help with homework, but advises against using them to just copy down answers or cheat on tests.

  • What is the reviewer's final ranking of the math apps?

    -The reviewer ranks Photomath at the top, followed by Mathway, and then Socratic at the bottom.

  • What is the reviewer's advice on using these apps for learning purposes?

    -The reviewer advises that while the apps are useful for checking answers if you already know how to solve the problems, they are not as helpful if you are stuck and need to understand the steps to solve the problem.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Math App Review Overview

This paragraph introduces a review of three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic. The apps are tested for their ability to solve a range of math problems from algebra to calculus using photo recognition. The goal is to determine which app is the most useful. The paragraph also provides background information on Mathway, including its ratings and features like typing, photo-taking, and voice input for math problems. However, it notes the limitation of needing a premium subscription to view solution steps.

05:03

🔍 In-Depth Analysis of Mathway and Photomath

The second paragraph delves into the performance of Mathway and Photomath. Mathway is praised for recognizing problems but criticized for requiring a premium subscription to view steps. In contrast, Photomath is highlighted for its ability to provide detailed steps for free, even for textbook problems when rephrased. The paragraph discusses the apps' effectiveness across different math subjects, noting that while Mathway struggles with geometry and requires payment for detailed steps, Photomath offers comprehensive explanations and is particularly effective for algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calculus problems.

10:06

🤖 Socratic's Performance and Comparison with Other Apps

The final paragraph evaluates Socratic, a Google-made app, and compares it with the other two apps. Socratic starts strong with algebra, offering step-by-step solutions and additional learning resources. However, it falters with geometry and higher-level math like pre-calculus, often failing to provide direct answers or requiring external searches. The paragraph concludes with a ranking of the apps, placing Photomath at the top for its ease of use and in-depth free explanations, followed by Mathway, and lastly Socratic, due to its inconsistency in recognizing and solving problems across different math subjects.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Math Apps

Math Apps refer to 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 to determine their effectiveness in helping with homework and understanding mathematical concepts. These apps are pivotal to the video's theme as they are the main subjects being evaluated for their usefulness and accuracy in solving math problems.

💡Algebra 1

Algebra 1 is a high school level mathematics course that introduces students to basic algebraic concepts, such as linear equations and inequalities. In the context of the video, Algebra 1 problems are used to test the capabilities of the math apps, with the first problem involving solving for a variable 'c' in a linear equation, demonstrating the apps' ability to handle fundamental algebraic operations.

💡Geometry

Geometry is a branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and relationships of points, lines, angles, and shapes. The video script mentions a geometry problem involving finding the values of angles in a parallel line scenario. This keyword is significant as it highlights the apps' ability to interpret and solve geometrical problems, which is a critical aspect of their functionality.

💡Trigonometry

Trigonometry, often shortened to trig, is a branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the angles and sides of triangles. In the script, a trigonometry problem about verifying identities is discussed, showcasing the apps' capacity to handle more advanced mathematical concepts and their potential educational value in teaching trigonometric principles.

💡Pre-Calculus

Pre-Calculus is a mathematical course that typically covers topics such as functions, matrices, and trigonometric identities, preparing students for calculus. The video tests the apps with a matrix problem from a pre-calculus textbook, evaluating their ability to assist with more complex mathematical operations that are foundational for higher-level math courses.

💡Calculus

Calculus is a branch of mathematics that deals with rates of change and accumulation, including the study of derivatives and integrals. The script describes testing the apps with an indefinite integral problem that requires integration by parts, which is a more advanced calculus technique. This keyword is crucial as it examines the apps' capabilities in handling sophisticated mathematical concepts.

💡Integration by Parts

Integration by Parts is a specific technique used in calculus to evaluate integrals of products of functions. In the video, one of the calculus problems requires the use of this method. The apps' ability to demonstrate and explain this technique is an example of how they can assist students in understanding and solving complex calculus problems.

💡Premium License

A Premium License in the context of the video refers to a subscription or upgrade within the math apps that allows access to advanced features, such as step-by-step solutions. The script discusses the limitations of the free versions of the apps, where a premium license is needed to view the steps to the solutions, which is an important aspect of the apps' educational value.

💡Textbook

In the script, the term 'textbook' is used when discussing how some math apps recognize problems from specific textbooks and may require a premium subscription to view steps for those problems. This keyword is significant as it touches upon the issue of accessibility and the potential bias towards students who can afford premium services for educational tools.

💡Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that can perform tasks such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. The video mentions Google's Socratic app, which leverages AI technology to assist with various subjects, including math. The use of AI in educational apps is a key point in the video, as it highlights the potential of technology to enhance learning experiences.

Highlights

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

Apps can read and solve math problems by photo or voice input.

Mathway has a 4.5 rating on Google and a 4.9 on Apple, with over 200,000 ratings.

Mathway's free version shows answers but requires a premium subscription for steps.

Photomath is specifically designed for scanning and solving math problems.

Photomath offers clear steps for free, unless the problem is from a textbook.

Socratic is a Google-made app that helps with various subjects, including math.

Socratic provides step-by-step solutions and additional learning resources for free.

Socratic sometimes relies on external sites for problem-solving.

Photomath recognized textbook problems but did not always solve geometry diagrams.

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

Socratic had difficulty recognizing some advanced math problems like matrices.

Photomath provided detailed steps for calculus problems, including integration by parts.

Mathway's premium subscription offers step-by-step solutions but may not be affordable for students.

Socratic's reliance on Google's AI technology offers a unique approach to problem-solving.

The review tests the apps with problems ranging from Algebra 1 to Calculus.

Apps are evaluated on their ability to provide solutions and explain the steps involved.

Photomath's performance is praised for its ease of use and in-depth free explanations.

Socratic's varied performance across different math subjects affects its overall ranking.

The review concludes with a ranking of the apps based on their effectiveness and features.

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