How Smart Is Your Smartphone?

HOW SMART IS YOUR PHONE?: PHOTOMATH APP

Would you believe it if I told you that there’s a phone app that instantly solves complex math equations? Would you believe it if the app not only solves equations, but will also display every step involved in solving the equation? As a math teacher, I didn’t believe in this fairy tale either until I downloaded the Photomath app to my phone. As advertised, if you hold your phone’s camera over any math equation (either handwritten or printed), the solution to the problem instantly appears, accompanied by all the steps involved in solving the problem.

Talk about science fiction merging with math homework! My mind was blown! While it is important that students understand what is entailed in solving an equation, what is more important is that students understand how to use math to solve problems (e.g. using physics equations to figure out how to build a structurally sound bridge). Today's technologies are certainly useful tools to assist us, but we must use our minds to figure out how math fits into the real world so we can use math as a tool to help us solve real world problems.

Install the Photomath app on your phone, hold it over the equation below, and watch the dark arts at work!

What are your thoughts and opinions on this technology? How will it affect students' learning? How will it affect the future of math education? How do you think this tool should be used?