Logan Jaques

Literature Review
Introduction

Mobile applications have become one of the most common ways of transporting data and
programs throughout our daily lives. They can be quick to access, easy to use, and fast to
responses. Another impressive quality about mobile apps is their ability to evolve and update to
further improve their function. People and companies normally write apps to fit certain needs or
to help people in ways they did not know they could be helped. This simple dynamic has led to
the massive increase in the types and quantity of apps available.
One of the most problematic subjects for people is math and all the different sub
doctrines within it. There are thousands of rules and formulas to solve a thousand different
problems, and in everyday life - whether it be school, work, or a random project - it is almost
impossible to remember all that one would need. This is one of the big problems mobile
applications have begun to eliminate. Apps provide the tools to calculate, solve, and find the
formulas in various helpful ways. Before any further improvements can be made, however, it is
necessary to know how the other applications function.
Current Math Apps
Mathematics is a large subject that encompasses many components and sub areas. It only
makes sense that there would be just as much variety in the number of apps made to suit
everyone's mathematical needs. There are three main categories of apps made for mathematics.
The categories include the following: calculators, equation solvers, and formula catalogs. It is
also common for the apps to borrow from multiple categories, but they can all be generalized

into a single one. To further make improvements on mathematical mobile apps it is necessary to
fully understand each category and how they can interact with each other.
Calculators
A simple calculator is almost always a default application on cell phones. Calculator apps
allow users to give an input and will return them an output. Their variety comes from the number
of basic functions they can perform. Some of the calculators only have the basics while others
are made to be scientific calculators.
Calculator by Xlythe is designed to be a simple calculator but easy to use (Calculator). It
is mainly designed around the four basic mathematical functions of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. For basic mathematics this is very useful, but if a user wanted to
compute something more complex Xlythe did include a limited amount of more complex
arithmetic. The most notable of these is the option to use a variable which is signified by an
uppercase X. When a user uses this variable in an equation, the calculator can expand into
graphing calculator. This however provided limited functionality because a user cannot solve for
a point on a graph or other important quantities like a local minimum or local maximum.
Although limited in some areas of functionality, Calculator by Xlythe is very graphically
pleasing and easy to use.
The next app is also cleverly named Calculator but is by Appsys. This app is very similar
to Calculator by Xlythe. They are both very simple in design and easy to navigate and use.
However Calculator by Appsys has some different features than Calculator by Xlythe. Calculator
by Appsys allows the user to use the four arithmetic operations, square root, percentages, tax
calculations, parentheses, grouping separators, and decimal points. To increase the ease of

operation the app also allows scrolling through the lines of calculation and access to memory.
These features are still very basic but are very useful for simple everyday calculations.
CALCU Stylish Calculator Free by Designer Calculators begins to be a little more
complex than the previous two apps. In design it allows the user to choose themes. Although this
does not affect how the app actually works mathematically, it does allow for greater user control
and comfort as it is more customizable. Also, this app is the first example of a more extended
calculator. It is not as extended as some of the other apps in this study; however, it does utilize
basic functions like inverse trig. Besides the additions of some more advanced functions and the
ability to customize the way this app looks, CALCUTM is another easy to use and simple
calculator app.
HiPER Scientific Calculator by HiPER Development Studios is another more complex
calculator with increased functionality. Three key features that make this app stand out from the
previous is its expression view, constants, and unit conversions. Expression view displays the
input as you would see it written down and not a long chain that can become confusing to the
user. This app also provides physical constants that are convenient when doing scientific
calculations that can require multiple constants. The most notable feature introduced by the
HiPER Scientific Calculator is that it includes unit conversions which allow users to quickly
calculate different units of measurements without having to know the ratios and correlations
needed to do the conversions. Although this app is not as visually pleasing as some of the others
in the study, it does introduce many important and useful features.
ClevCalc - Calculator by Clevapps begins to expand heavily on how calculator apps can
be organized and function.The first notable feature it includes is a sidebar that lists all of the
available calculators to the user. These calculators include a general calculator, a unit converter, a

currency converter, a discount calculator, a world time calculator, a GPA calculator, an ovulation
calculator, a date calculator, a unit price calculator, a health calculator (BMI and BMR), a fuel
efficiency calculator, an automobile fuel cost calculator, a hexadecimal converter, and a sales tax
calculator. Although this app does not focus on the more complex functions in mathematics, it
does show the most user variety than any of the other calculator apps in this study. With fourteen
categories it is the most organized, user friendly, and intuitive. ClevCalc will be a very important
app to this study because of its design features and functionality.
Increasing popularity for a well designed and highly functional calculator is evident by
the large variety of this category of mobile math apps available to choose from in today's virtual
marketplace. However, one problem that exists among them is their lack of ability to solve for
variables in functions. This is the difference between 1+1=X and 4/X=0.5. The next category
of math mobile apps are equation solvers designed to solve both the former and the later.
Equation Solvers
Equation solving apps are more complex than calculators due to the use of variables
which can introduce the need to manipulate the formula. This makes them more advantageous to
the user because it greatly simplifies what the user has to do to get his or her answer. There are
multiple ways to go about making a equation solving app, and they are all very popular and
useful.
Photomath - Camera Calculator by Photomath, Inc. is a very powerful app because of
how easy it is to use. This app works by using a phone's camera to view a written equation that is
either in a textbook or neatly handwritten. This allows users to hover their phones over the
equations and quickly see the answers. Along with this capability the app also provides the
solving solutions to the user which can help him or her learn how to solve similar equations in

the future. The app also has a basic calculator for manually entering in calculations. In addition
to all of Photomaths mathematical capabilities, it is also graphically pleasing and easy to
navigate. All of these qualities make Photomath a popular choice for an equation solving app.
AutoMath Photo Calculator by S2dio is very similar to the previous app in this category.
It improves upon the Photomath app by improving the calculator and user support. AutoMath
does this by integrating a more complex calculator. It has options for more complex functions
and adds a graphing feature. AutoMath Photo Calculator also gives its answers to either the
photo solver or the manual calculator in both real number fractions and decimals. Along with
these functionalities this app also provides a unique feature of being able to contact a person to
help with a problem. This is not a normal feature for apps, but it is very valuable because a
professional's input can compensate for whatever else the app is lacking. AutoMaths elegant
design and valuable help features makes it one of the most user friendly apps in this study.
MalMath: Step by step solver by MalMath is a manual input only equation solver. Where
it lacks the ease to input an equation by camera, it makes up for with its functionality. It is able to
solve more complex equations which include integrals, derivatives, limits, and trigonometry. It
also features more in depth solutions and explanations by providing more details and including
highlights to further help users. Along with a calculator and graphing capabilities the app also
provides additional math problems to further help the user understand different topics.
MalMaths specialization to help users fully understand math concepts makes it a very popular
and user friendly app.
Mathway - Math Problem Solver by Mathway is a convenient and impressive
combination of the three previous apps in this category. It includes a camera solver and provides
in-depth descriptions for both manual and picture input. Also, this app can solve a larger variety

of equations which include the addition of statistics and chemistry equations. Even though
Mathway - Math Problem Solver does not add any new functionality, it is still a well organized
and user friendly combination of the previous apps in this category.
MyScript Calculator by MyScript is unique out of all other apps in the study. It does not
have organized tabs, graphing capability, or even a standard calculator. All of the user input is
done by drawing the equations on the screen. This is a very interesting feature that makes user
input easy and natural. It does not give step-by-step instruction, nor does it have the most
expanded solving capabilities. The app supports basic operations, a few miscellaneous
operations, powers and exponentials, brackets, trigonometry, inverse trigonometry, logarithms,
and some constants like pi and e. MyScript Calculator with its ability to write and edit equations,
is intuitive, graphically pleasing, and a user friendly app that provides one of the best features to
borrow and expand upon.
Mobile math apps that can solve and explain various equations are very popular and
useful. They give answers quickly and easily and help users understand the concepts for future
problems. However, both equation solving apps and calculator apps fail to explain and provide
all of the different formulas a user may need. These two categories of apps are able to solve and
calculate the equations but they are not able to help the most fundamental step, which is knowing
what formula to use. The next category serves to supplement this gap by providing lists and
catalogs of various formulas that a user can expect to use in work, school, or everyday activities.
Formula Catalogs
Formula Catalog apps are the most simple in concept in this study. In general they
provide lists of formulas for the different areas of mathematics. They are important because there

is a vast number of formulas and it is hard for users to remember all of the ones they need.
Organization is the key to these apps.
All Math Formula by touchfield is the first app in this category of the study. It is
organized into easy to find tabs that relate to a specific area of mathematics. These areas include
the following: algebra, geometry, analytical geometry, derivation, integration, trigonometry,
Laplace transform, Fourier, series, numerical methods, vector calculus, probability, beta gamma,
and Z-Transform. In total the app has over five hundred formulas. One feature to aid in ease of
use is the addition of relevant diagrams and charts to help the user understand the formulas as
much as possible from the app alone. All of these features, along with the visually pleasing
design of the app, make it a very useful and popular choice in this category.
Math Formulas by NSC Co. is very similar to the previous app but does have some
differences. Although it is not as visually appealing, it does provide more diagrams and spaces
out equations more to make them easier to read and understand. It has a similar list of formulas
as does All Math Formula by touchfield, but Math Formulas by NSC Co. has the addition of
formulas for matrices and unit conversions. Another feature it introduces is the ability to mark
formulas as favorites. This is useful because it allows users to keep track of the formulas they use
most and to have easier access to them. This is another user friendly and efficient app in the
study.
All Math Formula by Tech-tweets is similar to the previous apps in this category in
variety of formulas but lacks having the same amount of user friendly features. It has all of its
formulas organized in a smaller number of categories which makes it harder to find the specific
formula the user is looking for. Also, it does not provide any sort of explanation, chart, or
diagram to help the user understand the properties of a specific formula. When actually viewing

the formulas, they are close together and the app is cluttered. However, despite this apps lack of
features, visually appealing graphics, and greater organization, it is one of the more popular in
the category. This apps appeal comes from its simplicity and extensive list of formulas.
Math Formulas by iStudentWorld is again very similar to the rest in the category. It is
well organized and is simply but nicely designed. It does not have a larger variety of formulas
than the others in this category, but it does have a feature that makes it more user friendly.
Instead of having just a diagram to help users understand the formula, this app gives a short
written description to help users understand. This is helpful to users who do not understand
charts and diagrams well. Besides this, Math Formulas by iStudentWorld is not very different
than the previous apps in this category of the study.
1300 Math Formulas Mega Pack by Study Apps is the best of all the previous apps in this
category combined into one. It has the largest number of formulas from areas that include:
number sets, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, matrices and determinants, vectors, analytic
geometry, differential calculus, integral calculus, differential equations, series, and probability.
Along with such an extensive list of formulas, the app has the most organization of all the
previously listed apps with categories that are divided into subcategories which allows finding
the right formula easier. Also, there are diagrams and descriptions for each formula and how each
can be used. All of these features combined make this the most extensive and user friendly app in
the category.
Math formula catalog apps are very useful for keeping track of all the various formulas
needed to be successful in mathematics. What works for this kind of math app is having an
extensive list of formulas while having them easy to access and understand. This category of

math app, along with the other categories of the study, provide all the tools necessary to solve
most math problems.
Proposed Math App and Conclusion
The purpose of this study is to improve on math apps and make them the most user
friendly and as helpful as they can be. One could say that an improvement would be to simply
take the best qualities and functionality of each category of math apps and combine them
together. What a user would get is an app that has all of the necessary formulas, can solve and
compute anything, and describes any problem the user does not understand. However, this does
not introduce anything new or solve all possible problems. One such problem could be having a
desired output but not knowing if you have all of the right inputs, how to use them, or what
formula you need. A user could try to do some guess calculations, but that will not always work.
He or she could not solve for the unknown variables without knowing the formula. It would be
hard to find a formula without knowing all of the variable input and outputs you need if you do
not know the name or basic idea of the formula. The apps in this study, combined into one or
separate, could not solve this problem.
In order to fix the issue previously stated an app would have to change how the user
searches for formulas. It would be a dynamic search that does not require a full description of the
formula or the name. To help the user find the desired formula and even help with finding the
missing variables needed to use the formula, the app would only require the user to enter the
variable inputs and outputs he or she has. Next, the app could search through a catalog of
formulas to find one that has similar inputs and outputs and provide a description of it to help the
user decide if that was what he or she was looking for. Then the user would provide the values he
or she has and any new values he or she had to get to fulfill the formulas requirements. The app

would then calculate or solve for an answer. For example, a user was given values for
acceleration, velocity, distance, time, and mass of an object. He or she is then asked to find the
force of that object given the variables available. Assume he or she only knows of one of the
variables needed to calculate the force but does not know the second variable or the formula
needed. If the one variable known to the user is acceleration, he or she would select acceleration
as the input and force as the output. The app would run an algorithm to determine that one
possible formula is force = mass*acceleration and to solve this the user would need to know
the mass of the object, which is given in this example. Now all the user would need to do is input
the mass and acceleration to find the force. This is what is needed to improve mobile math
applications: a dynamic formula search and solver.

References
Appsys. (2016). Calculator (Version 4.3.5) [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.Appsys.PanecalST&hl=en
Clevapps. (2016). ClevCalc - Calculator (Version 2.12.3) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.dencreak.dlcalculator&hl=en
Designer Calculators. (2016). CALCU Stylish Calculator Free (Version 2.9.0) [Mobile
application software]. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.candl.athena&hl=en

HiPER Development Studio. (2016). HiPER Scientific Calculator (Version 3.5) [Mobile
application software]. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=cz.hipercalc&hl=en
iStudentWorld. (2016). Math Formulas (Version 14.8) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.whitesof.mathformulas&hl=en
MalMath. (2016). MalMath: Step by step solver (Version 1.8) [Mobile application
software]. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.malmath.apps.mm&hl=en
Mathway. (2016). Mathway - Math Problem Solver (Version 3.0.61) [Mobile application
software]. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.bagatrix.mathway.android&hl=en
MyScript. (2015). MyScript Caclulator (Version 1.2.2.479) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.visionobjects.calculator&hl=en
NSC Co.. (2016). Maths Formulas Free (Version 9.1.1) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.touchfield.mathsformulasCalc&hl=en
Photomath, Inc.. (2016). Photomath - Camera Calculator (Version 3.0.1) [Mobile
application software]. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.microblink.photomath&hl=en
S2dio. (2016). AutoMath Photo Calculator (Version 2.94) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.s2dio.automath&hl=en

Study Apps. (2016). 1300 Math Formulas Mega Pack (Version 1.1.0) [Mobile application
software]. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.studyapps.mathen&hl=en
Tech-tweets. (2016). All Math Formula (Version 1.4) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.techtweets.allmathformula&hl=en
touchfield. (2016). All Math formula (Version 1.5.0) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved
from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.touchfield.mathsformulasCalc&hl=en
Xlythe (Calculator). (2016). Calculator (Version 5.1.1) [Mobile application software].
Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.android2.calculator3&hl=en