CYMATH REVIEW | Best Math App for ALGEBRA

your math tutor
13 May 202106:17

TLDRThis video review explores the math-solving app scimath, focusing on its ease of use, problem recognition, and step-by-step solutions. The reviewer finds scimath user-friendly with a clean UI but struggles with the camera feature for problem scanning. While scimath excels in solving algebra problems with clear explanations, it falls short in recognizing more complex problems like geometry, trigonometry, and matrices. The app is free and recommended for algebra students, but for other subjects, alternatives like photomath or mathway might be better.

Takeaways

  • 😀 The video is a review of the math app 'scimath' by a math tutor.
  • 🔍 The tutor evaluates scimath based on three criteria: ease of use, problem recognition and solving, and step-by-step explanations.
  • 📱 Scimath is a moderately popular app with good ratings on both Google Play and Apple Store.
  • 📷 The app allows users to either type in problems or use the camera to scan them.
  • 🔍 The camera feature was challenging to use for scanning specific problems, especially on a PDF.
  • 👍 Scimath provided detailed and clear solutions, with a clean and color-coded user interface.
  • 📚 The app excelled at solving algebra 1 and 2 problems, including factoring expressions and calculating derivatives.
  • 🚫 Scimath struggled with recognizing problems involving diagrams, special notation, trig identities, and matrices.
  • 🆓 The explanations provided by scimath are free and of high quality when the problems are recognized correctly.
  • 🎓 The tutor recommends scimath for students in algebra one or two, but suggests trying other apps for geometry, trigonometry, and higher-level math.
  • 👍 The video concludes with a thumbs up and subscription request for more math reviews, study tips, and tutorials.

Q & A

  • What is the app being reviewed in the video?

    -The app being reviewed in the video is called 'scimath'.

  • What are the top three criteria the tutor is looking for in the app?

    -The top three criteria the tutor is looking for are: ease of use, the app's ability to recognize and solve problems, and whether it shows the steps to get to the answer.

  • How does the tutor describe the app's popularity compared to other math solver apps?

    -The tutor describes the app as moderately popular with about 10,000 reviews on Google Play and Apple Store, which is modest compared to more popular apps like Mathway and Photomath that have hundreds of thousands of reviews.

  • What are the app's ratings on the app stores?

    -The app has good ratings between 4.4 and 4.7 on both Google Play and Apple Store.

  • What method does the tutor prefer to input math problems into the app?

    -The tutor prefers to use the camera option to input math problems rather than typing them in, as they find typing to be too time-consuming.

  • What issue did the tutor encounter when trying to scan a problem with the app's camera?

    -The tutor had a hard time getting the app to focus and scan the specific problem due to difficulty resizing the box to highlight just the desired problem without picking up adjacent problems.

  • How did the app perform when it came to solving algebra 1 linear equation problems?

    -Once the problem was successfully scanned, the app solved it quickly and provided a detailed and well-organized solution, including a method to check the answer, which the tutor appreciated.

  • What types of problems did the app struggle with according to the tutor's experience?

    -The app struggled with problems involving diagrams or special notation, such as geometry, trigonometry identities, and matrices.

  • How did the app perform with algebra 2 and calculus problems?

    -After overcoming the issue of picking up the right problem, the app performed well in factoring expressions and calculating derivatives and indefinite integrals for calculus.

  • What are the app's limitations according to the tutor's review?

    -The app's limitations include the scanner's inaccuracy and difficulty in recognizing certain types of problems like trig identities and matrices. It also seems to be less diverse in the types of problems it can recognize.

  • What recommendation does the tutor have for users based on the app review?

    -The tutor recommends the app for anyone in algebra one or two, as it picks up equations well. However, for users in geometry, trigonometry, and higher-level classes, the tutor suggests trying other apps like Photomath or Mathway due to the app's limitations.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Scimath App Review: Ease of Use and Problem Solving

In this video, the math tutor introduces a review of the scimath app, comparing it to other math solvers like Photomath. The focus is on three criteria: ease of use, problem recognition and solving, and step-by-step solution provision. The tutor appreciates the app's clean UI and color-coded explanations, especially for algebra problems. However, they encounter difficulties with the camera feature when scanning problems and note that scimath struggles with geometry, trigonometry, and certain algebraic problems. Despite these issues, the app's recognition and solution accuracy for algebra problems are praised, along with its free and clear explanations.

05:02

🔍 Scimath App Evaluation: Strengths and Limitations

The tutor evaluates scimath's performance based on the set criteria. For ease of use, scimath receives a B+ for its user-friendly interface but loses points due to camera scanning issues. In terms of problem recognition and solving, it gets a C, as it has difficulty with complex problems and different types of questions, though it excels in algebra. When it comes to showing steps for solutions, scimath earns an A for clarity, particularly for algebra problems. The tutor recommends scimath for algebra students but suggests trying other apps for geometry, trigonometry, and higher-level math due to scimath's limitations in these areas. The video concludes with a call to action for likes and subscriptions for more math reviews and tutorials.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Scimath

Scimath is the subject of the video, a math solving app that the tutor is reviewing. It is a tool designed to help students solve mathematical problems by either typing them in or using a camera feature to scan the problem. In the video, the tutor evaluates Scimath based on its ease of use, problem recognition and solving capabilities, and the clarity of the steps provided for reaching the solution. The app's performance in these areas is crucial for its utility as an educational tool.

💡Ease of use

Ease of use refers to how intuitive and user-friendly an application is. In the context of the video, the tutor assesses Scimath's interface and camera feature, noting difficulties in accurately scanning problems with the camera. Despite these issues, the app is described as having a user-friendly interface, which is an important factor for students who need to quickly and easily access solutions.

💡Problem recognition

Problem recognition is the app's ability to accurately identify and interpret the mathematical problems presented to it. The video script mentions that Scimath had trouble with certain types of problems, such as those with diagrams or special notation. This is a critical feature for a math solver app, as it determines the range of problems the app can assist with.

💡Solution

A solution in the context of the video refers to the answer provided by Scimath for the scanned or typed-in math problems. The tutor highlights that Scimath solves problems quickly and provides detailed solutions, which is essential for educational purposes as it allows students to understand the process behind arriving at the answer.

💡Steps

Steps are the detailed process or sequence of actions shown by Scimath to reach the solution of a math problem. The video emphasizes the clarity of these steps when Scimath successfully recognizes a problem, noting that they are well-explained and color-coded, which aids in the learning process.

💡Algebra

Algebra is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols. It is relevant to the video as the tutor tests Scimath's capabilities with problems ranging from Algebra 1 to Calculus. The app's performance with algebraic equations is particularly noted, as it is a fundamental area of math education.

💡Geometry

Geometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of shapes and sizes of objects. The video mentions that Scimath had difficulty recognizing problems with diagrams or special notation, which is a limitation when dealing with geometry problems that often require visual understanding.

💡Trigonometry

Trigonometry, often referred to as trig, is a branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the angles and sides of triangles. The script notes that Scimath struggled with trig identities, which are fundamental concepts in trigonometry, indicating a limitation in the app's problem-solving scope.

💡Calculus

Calculus is a branch of mathematics that deals with rates of change and accumulation. In the video, the tutor tests Scimath's ability to solve calculus problems, such as factoring expressions and calculating derivatives and indefinite integrals. The app's success in these areas demonstrates its potential for higher-level math education.

💡UI (User Interface)

User Interface (UI) refers to the design and layout of an application, which affects how users interact with it. The video script praises Scimath's clean and color-coded UI, which contributes to the ease of use and the clarity of the steps provided for solving problems.

💡Free

In the context of the video, 'free' refers to the fact that Scimath provides clear solutions and steps without requiring a premium subscription. This is an important aspect for students who may not be able to afford additional costs for educational tools and is highlighted as a positive feature of the app.

Highlights

Reviewing the app scimath for its usability, problem-solving capabilities, and step-by-step explanations.

Scimath is a moderately popular app with good ratings on Google Play and Apple Store.

The app opens directly to the solver, allowing users to type or take a picture of the problem.

Difficulty in focusing the camera to scan specific algebra problems.

Scimath solved algebra problems quickly and provided detailed, clean solutions.

Unique feature: The app explains how to check answers, a first in math solver apps.

Struggles with recognizing problems involving diagrams or special notation in geometry and trigonometry.

Scimath does not recognize trig identities or matrices as well as other apps.

Success in solving algebra 2 and calculus problems, including factoring expressions and calculating derivatives.

Inaccuracies in the scanner, such as missing parts of integral problems.

When scimath recognizes problems, it provides clear and free explanations.

User-friendly interface and intuitive app design.

Camera feature issues detract from the ease of use.

Recognition and problem-solving abilities are limited, earning a 'C' rating.

Outstanding clarity in step-by-step explanations when problems are recognized.

Recommended for algebra students due to its effectiveness with equations.

For geometry, trigonometry, and higher-level math, other apps may be more suitable.

The reviewer suggests trying Photomath or Mathway for a broader range of math problems.