Math Solver

Type a problem such as 6x + 5 = 14 and the math solver answers it at once: subtract 5 from both sides to get 6x = 9, then divide by 6, so x = 3/2. Every step is free, the answer is checked by substituting it back (6 · 1.5 + 5 = 14), and the same box handles algebra, trigonometry and calculus.

How to type math problems

Type the problem the way you would write it on paper. Spaces are optional, and the “Reads as” line under the box shows how the solver understood your input before you press Enter. If the preview looks wrong, fix the input first. You can also use the keypad, which has a different set of keys for each tab.

What the math solver can do

The solver reads the problem, names its type in a “Detected” chip, and picks a method. When an expression could mean more than one task, the chip row offers the other actions, for example Factor, Expand, Find roots, Vertex, Derivative or Integral for a polynomial.

Algebra covers linear and multi-step equations, quadratics with real or complex roots, polynomials (rational root test and synthetic division), rational equations with excluded values, absolute value, radical, exponential and logarithmic equations, and linear, compound, quadratic and rational inequalities with interval notation and a number line. Systems of two or three linear equations are solved by elimination, and a two-variable system with one linear equation is solved by substitution.

Trigonometry gives exact values at special angles, inverse values such as arcsin(1/2) = π/6, every solution of a basic trig equation in one turn plus the general solution, and common identity simplifications such as sin²x + cos²x = 1. Calculus covers derivatives with the power, product, quotient and chain rules, integrals by the power rule, a table of basic forms, substitution and parts, definite integrals with a shaded area, limits by substitution, factoring, conjugates, standard limits and L’Hôpital’s rule, and finite sums.

How the answer is checked

A solver that is wrong even once in a while is worse than none, so each result is tested by a separate method before it is shown, and the card says how. Roots are substituted back into the original equation, and a scan of the graph confirms that none were missed. Inequality answers are tested at hundreds of points on the number line. A derivative is compared with a numerical slope, an antiderivative is differentiated back to the integrand, a definite integral is compared with Simpson’s rule, and a limit is compared with a table of values. If a check fails, the answer is not shown.

How to read the steps

The answer comes first, in the large green box. Press Show steps to open the working one step at a time with Next step, or press Show all. Each step has three parts:

1. A green label with the name of the rule, such as Quadratic formula or Chain rule, so you can look it up in your notes.
2. The algebra for that step. The part that just changed is highlighted in yellow.
3. One plain sentence that says what was done. Key rules also have a Why? button that explains where the rule comes from.

Below the steps, the graph shows the same answer in a different way: solutions are where curves meet, inequality solutions are shaded, and an integral is the shaded area. Drag the graph to move it, pinch or use the + and − buttons to zoom, or focus it and use the arrow keys.

Learn with it instead of copying

Copying an answer gets one homework problem done. Being able to do the next one yourself is what counts on a test, and that is what the practice button is for.

• Try the problem on paper first, then compare your last line with the answer card.
• If you are stuck, open only the first step, close it, and continue on your own.
• Press Practice a similar problem. You get a fresh problem of the same type with different numbers. Type your answer and press Check. Hint shows one step at a time, and Show steps gives the full working.
• Your score and streak are kept for the session, so you can see when a skill has clicked. Three correct in a row is a good sign that you are ready to move on.

Common input mistakes

• Missing parentheses in fractions. x + 1/x − 2 means x + (1/x) − 2. For one fraction, type (x + 1)/(x − 2).
• Missing parentheses in exponents. 2^x+1 means 2ˣ + 1. For a power of x + 1, type 2^(x + 1).
• A minus sign in front of a square. −3^2 is −9, because the exponent is done first. For 9, type (−3)^2.
• Degrees in radian mode. sin(30) means 30 radians. Type sin(30°) or press Deg.
• Commas inside numbers. Commas separate equations in a system, so type 1000 rather than 1,000 for large numbers in an equation.
• Two equals signs. Use one = per equation. To check whether two expressions are equal, type them as one equation and see whether the result is “All real numbers”.

Specialist tools

For one topic in more depth, with extra options, open the matching calculator:

• Equation solver and algebra calculator
• Quadratic equation solver and factoring calculator
• System of equations calculator and inequality calculator
• Trigonometry calculator and unit circle calculator
• Derivative calculator, integral calculator and limit calculator
• Graphing calculator and fraction calculator

Math solver practice quiz: 10 questions

Test yourself with 10 multiple-choice questions. Choose an answer and press Submit to see if you are right and why. Your score appears at the end.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free math solver with steps?

Yes. This one shows every step for free, with no sign-up, no daily limit and no app to install. Many popular solvers show the answer for free but lock the full working behind a subscription. Here the steps, the graph, the check and the practice problems are all free.

Does it show steps for free for every problem?

Yes, for every problem type it solves exactly. When no exact method applies, for example a transcendental equation such as x = cos(x), it says so, gives a decimal answer found numerically, and explains how the answer was found.

Can it solve word problems?

Not directly: you first translate the words into math, which is the skill word problems test. Name the unknown (let x be the number of tickets), write each sentence as an expression, and join them with an equals sign. "Adult tickets cost 12 dollars, child tickets 8 dollars, and 30 tickets brought in 300 dollars" becomes 12x + 8(30 − x) = 300. The solver then gives x = 15. Simple percent questions such as "12 is what percent of 80" can be typed as they are.

How do I type square roots, exponents and fractions?

Type sqrt(50) or use the √ key for a square root, and cbrt(27) for a cube root. Use ^ for exponents, as in x^2 or 2^(x + 1). Use / for fractions and put parentheses around a numerator or denominator with more than one term: (x + 1)/(x − 2). The "Reads as" line shows the formatted problem as you type, so you can catch a misplaced bracket before solving.

Why does my answer look different from the book?

The same answer can be written in several correct forms: 3/2 or 1.5, (5 + √217)/8 or about 2.4664, x ≥ 3 or [3, ∞). Antiderivatives can also differ by a constant. The answer card lists common alternative forms, and the practice checker accepts any equivalent form.