PhotoMath App Review

by David Dobyns

The app that I decided to review is called PhotoMath app.  This is a free app that allows students to scan in the problem they are trying to solve, and it will show them the steps needed to solve the problem as well as the answer.  I downloaded the app on my phone.  I found that this app is not difficult to use but it did not work well.  You point your phone at the problem and hit the red button to take a picture of the problem.  It would take the problem and give you answer with access to the steps to solve the problem. 

First, the app would only work on text from a book or off the computer. It would not read my handwriting. Second, the app would not read word problems. I tried to scan word problems and I would just get a message asking if I needed help to learn how to scan the problem. It did not help when I looked at the help message. Third the app was difficult to get it to read some problems. The problems could not be very close together. If they were too close it would try to read the problem and put the two problems together. This app seemed to be a good idea, but I found it not something that would work very easily. Also, I am not sure that students would not just use it to get the answers and the steps instead of using it to help them learn to do the problem.

Cost: Free  

Rating: ⭐