Mathway review
Mathway offers quick and accurate answers to the mathematical problems you input and can work offline, being a useful app to have at school. While extremely good at providing answers, this app won't show you how it solved a problem unless you buy a monthly or annual subscription.
Pros
Smart, fast, and accurate: Mathway solves problems from all areas of mathematics, including algebra, calculus, trigonometry, and statistics, and can also take on chemistry, determining the behavior of gases or finding the number of molecules in a certain mass. The results are spot on (we double-checked and triple-checked) and provided instantly even for difficult problems like finding that X and Y intercepts or evaluating limits approaching infinity.
Neat layout: The toolbar at the top of the screen enables you to quickly select the area of mathematics you need help with; through the buttons below it you can easily define your problem. We also like the beautiful rendering of geometric figures in the main window, and the convenient placement of the Help, Save, Cancel, Undo, and Redo buttons on the right-hand side of the screen.
Helpful examples: While lacking a conventional tutorial, this app features a list of all the problems it can solve (the ? Button), categorized by type. When you choose one of them from the list, you're given an example that can help you get started.
Cons
Not good for learning unless you upgrade: The app doesn't show you how it reached an answer but asks you to register an account, and after you do, you still can't see the results unless you subscribe for $19,99/month or $99,99/year.
Interface optimized for smartphones: On our Nexus 7 tablet, the app's keyboard and most of its buttons appear too tiny.
Bottom Line
Easy to use and efficient, Mathway appeals to anyone who needs help solving mathematical problems, whether we're talking about high-school students or undergraduates. Even some professors and scientists can use it to verify results or perform routine equations more quickly. If you want not only answers, but also to learn from this app, however, you'll have to buy a rather pricey subscription.
