THE BEST MATH APP FOR YOUR CLASS | Mathway vs Photomath vs Socratic
TLDRThis review compares three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic. The apps are tested with various math problems to determine their effectiveness. Mathway offers solutions but requires a premium subscription for steps. Photomath impresses with clear, free step-by-step solutions, though textbook questions may require a subscription. Socratic, powered by Google, starts strong with algebra but falters with more complex subjects, relying on external sites for answers. Overall, Photomath stands out for its user-friendly interface and in-depth explanations.
Takeaways
- 📚 The video compares three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic.
- 🔍 Mathway offers a free download with a premium subscription for detailed steps, but its free version lacks step-by-step explanations.
- 📈 Photomath stands out for its ability to provide detailed step-by-step solutions for free, except for textbook questions.
- 🤖 Socratic, developed by Google, uses AI to search for solutions and offers explanations, but its effectiveness varies across subjects.
- 📱 All apps allow users to input math problems through typing, photo, or voice, enhancing accessibility.
- 💰 Mathway and Photomath both offer premium versions for a monthly fee, while Socratic's services are included without additional cost.
- 📉 Mathway's geometry problem-solving capability was found to be ineffective, unable to read diagrams.
- 📈 Photomath's performance in pre-calculus and calculus was impressive, providing detailed steps for complex problems.
- 🔍 Socratic's approach to solving problems involves linking to external sites, which may or may not offer the required explanations.
- 📚 The reviewer suggests that while these apps are great tools for homework help, they should not be used for cheating.
- 📉 Socratic struggled with geometry and pre-calculus, sometimes failing to recognize or solve the problems presented.
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 according to the video?
-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 issue with Mathway's free version when it comes to viewing steps for solving problems?
-The free version of Mathway does not show the steps to the answers unless you upgrade to a premium license for a monthly fee.
How does Photomath handle textbook problems differently from Mathway?
-Photomath shows all the steps for free if the problem is copied and pasted into a word document, avoiding detection as a textbook problem.
What is the main advantage of Photomath over Mathway according to the reviewer?
-Photomath provides clear and detailed steps for solving problems for free, unlike Mathway which requires a premium subscription to view steps.
What is Socratic's approach to solving math problems?
-Socratic helps users by linking to external sites that have the answers and explanations, essentially acting as a search engine for math solutions.
What issue did the reviewer encounter with Socratic when dealing with geometry problems?
-Socratic failed to recognize the geometry problem correctly and instead provided unrelated information about maps and longitude.
How does the reviewer feel about the overall usefulness of these apps for students?
-The reviewer believes that all of these apps are incredible tools to help with homework but advises against using them to simply copy down answers or cheat.
What is the reviewer's final ranking of the math apps after testing them?
-The reviewer ranks Photomath at the top, followed by Mathway, and then Socratic at the bottom.
What is the reviewer's advice regarding the use of these apps for learning purposes?
-The reviewer advises students to use these apps as aids for understanding problems better but not to rely on them for copying answers or cheating on tests.
Outlines
📚 Review of Math Apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic
This paragraph introduces a comparative 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 by analyzing photos of the problems. Mathway is highlighted as a free app with a premium version offering step-by-step solutions. The review aims to determine which app is the most useful for students, emphasizing the importance of understanding the steps to solve problems rather than just getting the answers.
🔍 In-Depth Analysis of Mathway and Photomath
The second paragraph delves into the performance of Mathway and Photomath. Mathway is criticized for not providing step-by-step solutions in its free version, which is a significant drawback for students needing to learn problem-solving methods. In contrast, Photomath impresses with its ability to recognize textbook problems and provide detailed steps for free, although it struggles with geometry problems and requires workarounds to avoid premium content restrictions. The paragraph also touches on the apps' handling of algebra, geometry, algebra 2, trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus problems.
🤖 Socratic's Performance and Comparison with Other Apps
The final paragraph focuses on Socratic, a Google-developed app that uses AI to assist with various subjects, including math. While Socratic initially excels in algebra by providing step-by-step solutions and additional resources, it falters in geometry and higher-level math subjects like pre-calculus and calculus. The app's reliance on external sites for answers is noted, and its overall utility is questioned, especially when it fails to recognize certain problems. The paragraph concludes with a ranking of the apps, placing Photomath at the top for its comprehensive and mostly free solutions, followed by Mathway, with Socratic at the bottom due to its inconsistent performance.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Math Apps
💡Algebra
💡Photomath
💡Socratic
💡Calculus
💡Geometry
💡Trigonometry
💡Pre-Calculus
💡Integration by Parts
💡Premium Subscription
Highlights
Review of three popular math apps: Mathway, Photomath, and Socratic.
Apps allow photo-taking of math problems for reading and solving.
Testing the apps with problems ranging from Algebra 1 to Calculus.
Mathway is free but requires a premium subscription for step-by-step solutions.
Photomath recognized textbook problems but required payment for step-by-step guidance.
Socratic, made by Google, offers explanations without payment but struggles with problem recognition.
Mathway's geometry problem recognition failed to read diagrams.
Photomath provides clear step-by-step solutions, even for complex problems like calculus integrals.
Socratic's strength lies in its ability to link to various external resources for problem-solving.
Mathway's premium feature offers integration by parts explanation in calculus.
Photomath's unique approach to providing free steps for non-textbook problems.
Socratic's info cards offer key concepts and related videos for better understanding.
The reviewer's preference for Photomath due to its in-depth and mostly free explanations.
Mathway's recognition of all scanned problems but lack of step visibility in the free version.
Socratic's inconsistency in problem recognition, especially in higher-level math subjects.
The importance of using math apps as tools for learning rather than for cheating.
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