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Mathway: Math Problem Solver 4+

Homework scanner & calculator, chegg, inc..

• #67 in Education
• 4.9 • 421.1K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

Mathway is the world’s smartest math calculator for algebra, graphing, calculus and more! Mathway gives you unlimited access to math solutions that can help you understand complex concepts. Simply point your camera and snap a photo or type your math homework question for step-by-step answers. If a premium subscription option is selected: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, at the same monthly or annual rate selected at the beginning of the subscription • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase Terms of Use: https://www.mathway.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.mathway.com/privacy

Version 5.5.7

Powered by Chegg, Mathway is your one-stop shop for homework help. Is your equation too complex to type? Save time with our snap and solve feature! Just take a photo and instantly see the solution. Our interactive calculator also allows you to select your class subject (now including physics!) to generate all the functions you need to solve that equation. Need more than an answer? Upgrade your subscription and get unlimited access to detailed equation breakdowns, helping you learn how to solve it one step at a time.

Ratings and Reviews

421.1K Ratings

Recommend!!!!!!?

Once I was doing my homework I couldn’t figure it out I asked my mom to help me and I showed her and she fell asleep so I kind of started panicking Went downstairs to the table I started struggling and thinking and thinking so I went to the App Store looked and looked and looked and looked left to right for helping your homeworkIs the best I really do recommend it it is the best it will save your life and when I mean save your life I mean really save your life nobody really understands when they say that they saved their lifeThey never understand how much that person means they don’t even know how serious the persons like saying I really do recommend this app messed up in the world five star review amazing helpful save your life get it get it now get it now it’s the best app ever students allowed teacher teachers not allowed can students really need this app so don’t get mad at them if they have this app it’s the best time with them so hope you get it

All it does is give the answer

Seriously saying, this app is literally just useless unless if you know the answer to math problems and want to check your answers. Otherwise, paying wouldn’t be a consideration for me. For those who are on a tight budget, and have a strong desire to reach their future career, I’d say paying wouldn’t be worth it, especially if you are just doing a living only as a student with no career and if you do not have enough financial support. I’ve lived a long way with this app studying all day and all night and yet there is high demand for paying just to get the work shown to get the idea why a question is answered in a certain way. This is why nowadays I read reviews from various books titled for math and read books that give a full explanation of how an answer is earned. As a life lesson it’s just good to say the fact that spending is not worth it for this app since there are various places and apps to ask questions related to learning math (at least in my area). This app should be like a substitute teacher or tutor for those who are having trouble, but the fact that there is such huge fee just ruins the reason why I should install this app. Teachers ask for showing work, and yet I’m stuck, having no idea what to do to get the right answers. This also goes to understanding how an answer is caught as well.

It works but the full version hasn’t for me

I have been using this a lot this semester so I decided to pay for the monthly subscription then I could cancel the membership at the end of the semester, but it doesn’t even work. The subscription shows in my subscriptions list in my settings but I still can’t view the steps, and when I attempt to see how the problem is solved it brings me to the menu to subscribe to the paid part of the app. Honestly though, other than that. This app works pretty great, solves problems the right way and you can select the method of how you want the problem solved. You can change what kind of math you are trying to solve, and the answers are pretty spot on. The predictive text is even really good on this, it’ll help solve word problems and you kind of don’t em have to type anything in sometimes. However, the keyboard is very buggy and you can’t type very fast. It’s also kind of hard to navigate as there are like 4 different keyboard menus to choose from, I always forget where to find things and it kind of takes a while to load the text sometimes. But it does solve the problems.

Developer Response ,

Sorry to hear of the issues you're having - please select 'restore subscription' from the settings of your Mathway account. This should turn the steps "ON". For further assistance you can reach Mathway customer support by emailing: [email protected].

App Privacy

The developer, Chegg, Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Contact Info
• Identifiers

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• User Content

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese

• Steps (Monthly) $9.99
• Steps (Monthly) $19.99
• Steps (Annual) $39.99
• Steps (Annual) $79.99
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Free Wolfram|Alpha Math Resources

Free help with your math—check your answers, quiz yourself, explore topics and more.

Wolfram|Alpha Website

Use the Wolfram|Alpha website for free to check answers, plot equations, balance chemical equations, visualize results, review interesting facts on a subject area and more.

Math Input on the Wolfram|Alpha Website

Use textbook notation to enter your math input and see it displayed in 2D. We've provided popular templates for you to use, as better visualization and quick editing mean faster results.

Wolfram|Alpha Mobile Apps

Use Wolfram|Alpha how and where you want with our natively designed apps. From additional features to specially designed keyboards, we’ve made it easy to use Wolfram|Alpha on the go.

Use Wolfram|Alpha to Practice

With Wolfram Problem Generator, each question is generated instantly, just for you. Quiz yourself with an unlimited number of questions until you feel confident in the subject area.

Wolfram|Alpha Calculators

Use our convenient calculator pages to input your queries into Wolfram|Alpha. Read more information on topic areas and explore example queries.

Wolfram|Alpha Math Topic Coverage

Wolfram|Alpha has broad knowledge and deep computational power when it comes to math. Whether it be arithmetic, algebra, calculus, differential equations or anything in between, Wolfram|Alpha is up to the challenge.

Wolfram|Alpha Pro Resources

Add more to your toolbox with Wolfram|Alpha Pro! Get step-by-step solution help, generate printable worksheets and more! Discounts are available for students and educators— go Pro now »

Learn with Step-by-Step Solutions

Unlock step-by-step calculators for calculus, algebra, trigonometry, equation solving and basic math. Gain more understanding of your math homework with step-by-step hints guiding you from problems to answers!

Use Step-by-Step Solutions on Your Device

Pro users can log in to their accounts in the Wolfram|Alpha iOS and Android apps to use step-by-step solutions on the go.

Textbook to Answers in a Snap with Photo Input

Input your math even faster with photo input. Enter your math problems using photo-based input to get you quickly to results and step-by-step solutions.

Enhanced Features for Wolfram Problem Generator

Wolfram|Alpha Pro subscribers get integrated step-by-step solutions and can create unlimited printable worksheets for study sessions and quizzes.

Web Apps Powered by Wolfram|Alpha

Easy inputs with our form-based interfaces get you straight to answers. Our Web App collections cover a wide variety of math topics, including algebra, calculus and more.

Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition Resources

The simplicity of Wolfram|Alpha with the computational capabilities of Mathematica— try it now »

Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition

Take Wolfram|Alpha to the next level with a unified software tool for desktop and cloud perfect for teaching and learning. Use free-form input to get instant answers to questions, create and customize graphs, and turn static examples into dynamic models.

Hands-on Start to Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition

Learn how to quickly create notebooks that combine calculations, graphics, interactive examples and notes; enter free-form input and get solutions; create 2D, 3D and interactive graphics with controls to dynamically change the parameters; and more.

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Ask Questions

Math Solver

About upstudy ai math solver, what types of math problems can upstudy math solver handle.

UpStudy Math Solver with steps is versatile and capable of solving a wide range of mathematical problems, including pre-algebra, algebra, pre-calculus, inequalities, calculus, trigonometry, geometry, statistics and probability, and matrices. No matter the complexity of the problem, our tool aims to provide fast, clear, and step-by-step solutions.

Is it free? Is there a limit to the number of problems I can solve per day?

There is no limit to the number of problems you can solve using our free Math Solver. Our goal is to provide unrestricted access to help students and professionals alike with their mathematical needs at any time.

Is it a picture math solver? Can it solve the question in the picture I sent?

The Math Solver on this page does not currently support solving problems directly from pictures.

However, UpStudy does provide this functionality, which is one of our proudest features. For the best experience, we recommend using our Android or iOS app, or you can visit our ' Ask AI ' page to try it out.

What are the benefits of using the UpStudy Math Solver?

There are many pros to UpStudy Math Solver: it gives instant and exact answers to complicated mathematical problems, saves time, and increases understanding of various mathematical concepts. With that, the users learn and apply mathematics in great detail because the principles are supposed to be worked out step by step. If you are a student or a teacher, or even a working professional who needs to do some important math calculations, Math Solver will provide the best solution for you. Moreover, its ability to handle a broad spectrum of math problems makes it versatile for a wide range of educational and professional applications.

Tips & Fun Ideas for math problems solving in life

Solving math problems can be more engaging and effective with the right approach. Here are some tips and fun ideas to enhance your problem-solving skills:

Decompose: Begin with breaking a complex problem into smaller, doable parts. This will help with better understanding the problem as a whole, and the solution will be arrived at in a step-by-step manner.

Use Visual Aids: This may include drawing diagrams, or even some physical objects to help visualize the problem at hand. It is most useful in Geometry, Trigonometry, and Algebra and can make abstract concepts more tangible.

Practice regularly: Like any other skill, doing math is a habit. Schedule regular times for practicing math problems to build and keep your skills current.

Play Math Games: Have fun doing math puzzles and games like Sudoku, KenKen or math riddles. These can make learning fun and improve your number skills and logical thinking.

Understand the 'Why': Understand not just how to solve a problem, but why a particular method works. Through this, it is possible for you to understand methods better and apply them more productively in a wide range of other problems.

Use AI Homework Helper: Tools like UpStudy Math Solver help you see solutions and approaches that you probably would not have thought of; it's going to show you insight in many solving methods.

Join Study Groups: Trying to discuss the problems with peers can open a new point of view and way of trying. Also, this makes learning fun, not a lonely process.

Apply Math to Real Life: Try to connect math problems with real-life scenarios. This not only makes the problems more interesting but also enhances your problem-solving skills by showing the practical application of math.

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iPadOS 18 introduces powerful new intelligence features and apps designed for Apple Pencil

Calculator on iPad Delivers a New Way to Solve with Math Notes

More Flexible Handwritten Notes with Smart Script

More Ways to Customize iPad

A New Tab Bar Brings Easier Navigation

A Redesigned Photos App to Relive Special Moments

New Ways to Stay Connected in Messages

Safari Enables Distraction-Free Browsing 

New Privacy Controls

Apple Intelligence Makes iPad Even More Useful and Delightful

• Built on the foundation of Keychain, Passwords is a new app that makes it easy to access credentials and have them securely stored in one place, including passwords, verification codes, and security alerts.
• SharePlay gets even better this year with powerful updates to screen sharing. Users can tap and draw on their screen to point out what should be done. And for more direct assistance, users can ask for permission to remotely control a device.
• With Freeform , bringing ideas to life becomes even easier. Users can create scenes to organize sections of a board by topic, or easily present content by moving around quickly.
• Gaming becomes even more immersive with features like Game Mode and Personalized Spatial Audio, which put players in the middle of the action in upcoming titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard. And with Game Porting Toolkit 2, developers have new tools that make it easier to bring even more advanced games to iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
• Calendar becomes more helpful by showing both events and tasks from Reminders. Users can create, edit, and complete reminders right from Calendar.
• Reminders gets new tools, including the ability to view, create, and edit directly from the Calendar app; access a recently deleted list; and find subtasks in Smart Lists for quick reference.
• In Apple Maps , users can browse thousands of hikes across national parks in the United States and easily create their own custom walking routes, which they can access offline. Maps users can also save their favorite national park hikes, custom walking routes, and locations to an all-new Places Library and add personal notes about each spot.
• Accessibility features include Eye Tracking, a built-in option for navigating iPad with just eyes, and Vocal Shortcuts that enable users to perform tasks by making a custom sound.

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

iPadOS 18 takes iPad to the next level with Apple Intelligence, the introduction of Calculator with Math Notes, new handwriting tools in Notes, additional ways to customize iPad, and more

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA  Apple today previewed iPadOS 18 , a major release that enhances the iPad experience, making it more versatile and intelligent than ever. With iPadOS 18, Calculator comes to iPad with Math Notes, along with new handwriting tools in Notes — all designed for Apple Pencil. iPad users now have more ways to customize the Home Screen and Control Center, and with iPadOS 18, users receive the biggest redesign of the Photos app to date and new ways to express themselves in Messages. 

iPadOS 18 also introduces Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. Built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iPadOS 18, iOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It understands and creates language and images, takes action across apps, and draws from personal context, simplifying and accelerating everyday tasks. Taking full advantage of the power of Apple silicon and the Neural Engine, Apple Intelligence will be supported on iPad models with an M-series chip. 1

“Our most versatile device is becoming even more powerful and intelligent than ever with iPadOS 18,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “With fun new ways to personalize the Home Screen, a redesigned Photos experience, major updates to the Notes app, the addition of Calculator with Math Notes, and the groundbreaking introduction of Apple Intelligence, iPadOS 18 brings incredible new features designed for the unique capabilities of iPad, making it even easier for users to get tasks done.” 

An all-new Math Notes calculator allows users to type or write out mathematical expressions and see them instantly solved in their own handwriting. They can also assign values to variables when learning new concepts in class, calculating a budget, and more. With a new graphing feature, users can write or type an equation and insert a graph with just one tap, and can even add multiple equations on the same graph to see how they relate. And Math Notes are automatically accessible in the Notes app in the new Math Notes folder.

The basic and scientific calculators on iPad make it easy to view complete expressions before completing them. History helps users keep track of previous calculations, and unit conversions let users quickly convert length, weight, currencies, and more.

With the power of Apple Pencil, Smart Script makes handwritten notes fluid, flexible, and easier to read, all while maintaining the look and feel of a user’s personal handwriting. Smart Script allows users to write quickly without sacrificing legibility by smoothing and straightening handwritten text in real time. And it makes editing handwritten text just as simple as editing typed text. With Apple Pencil, users can easily add space, scratch out a sentence, or even paste typed text in their own handwriting, and the paragraph will automatically reflow to fit the new content.

The Notes app brings enhancements to typed text, too. For added convenience, users can now organize the content of their notes by collapsing sections under headings or subheadings. And for information that needs to stand out, they can choose from five new text highlight colors.

iPadOS 18 introduces even more options for users to express themselves, including brand-new ways to customize the Home Screen and app icons as well as Control Center. App icons and widgets can be placed in any open position on the Home Screen to create the ideal layout and let a user’s wallpaper shine through. They can be customized to appear exactly how users want — light, dark, or with a tint. Users can also make all the app icons and widgets appear even larger, removing the name underneath, for a new streamlined look.

Control Center has been redesigned to provide easier access to many of the things users do every day, and it gets new levels of customization and flexibility. The redesign delivers quick access to new groups of a user’s most-utilized controls, such as media playback, Home controls, and connectivity, as well as the ability to easily swipe between each. Users can now add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center all from one place. Developers can take advantage of the new Controls API to let their users accomplish even more tasks, like quickly unlocking a vehicle or instantly capturing content for social media.

A redesigned tab bar floats above app content and complements the sidebar to help users stay focused on what matters most while keeping favorite tabs within reach. The new floating tab bar elegantly morphs into the sidebar so users can dive deeper into an app’s full functionality. With the redesigned tab bar, iPad users can reorder or add other tabs from the sidebar, unlocking an entirely new way to customize in-app experiences.

The Photos app receives its biggest redesign yet — which takes advantage of the larger display on iPad — automatically keeping libraries organized so users can spend less time searching and more time enjoying their best moments. A simplified, single view displays a familiar grid, and new collections help users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums. Plus, collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. A new carousel view presents highlights that update each day and feature favorite people, pets, places, and more. Autoplaying content throughout the app brings libraries to life, so past moments can be enjoyed while browsing. Because each user’s photo library is unique, the app is customizable, so users can organize collections, pin collections to access frequently, and include what’s most important to them in the carousel view.

Messages receives big updates to the ways users express themselves and stay connected. Text formatting like bold, underline, italics, and all-new animated text effects bring iMessage conversations to life, and with redesigned Tapbacks, users can react to a message with any emoji or sticker. Messages in iPadOS 18 introduces the ability to schedule messages to send at a later time, helping users stay fully in control of when and how they are connecting with their closest contacts.

Safari, the world’s fastest browser, 2 now offers an even easier way to discover information on the web with Highlights and a redesigned Reader experience. Using machine learning, Safari can surface key information about a webpage. For example, users can review a summary to get the gist of an article; quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artist’s track right from an article about the song or album. Additionally, with a redesigned Reader view, there are even more ways to enjoy a streamlined presentation of an article and its summary.

iPadOS 18 gives users even more ways to control who can see their apps, how they share their contacts, and how their iPad connects to accessories. Locked and hidden apps offer users peace of mind that information they want to keep private, such as app notifications and content, will not inadvertently be seen by others. Users can now lock an app; and for additional privacy, they can hide an app, moving it to a locked, hidden apps folder. When an app is locked or hidden, content like messages or emails inside the app are hidden from search, notifications, and other places across the system.

Users also have more control in managing how apps access their information. When an app requires access to contact information, users can now allow access to specific contacts, not the full contact list. To keep other connections on the network private, developers can now seamlessly pair Bluetooth accessories without relying on other accessories nearby.

Deeply integrated into iPadOS 18 and built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With brand-new, systemwide Writing Tools built into iPadOS 18, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

New image capabilities make communication and self-expression even more fun. With Image Playground, users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use, built right into apps like Messages, and also available in a dedicated app. In Notes, users can access Image Playground through the new Image Wand in the Apple Pencil tool palette, making notes even more visually engaging.

Memories in Photos lets users create the stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc. In addition, a new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

With the power of Apple Intelligence, Siri takes a major step forward, becoming even more natural, contextually relevant, and personal. Additionally, users can type to Siri, and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers. When requests are routed to Private Cloud Compute, data is not stored or made accessible to Apple and is only used to fulfill the user’s requests, and independent experts can verify this privacy promise.

Additionally, access to ChatGPT is integrated into Siri and systemwide Writing Tools across Apple’s platforms, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between tools.

Additional iPadOS 18 updates include:

Availability

The developer beta of iPadOS 18 is available through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com . New software features will be available this fall as a free software update for iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (7th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later). Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English, as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia this fall. For more information, visit apple.com/ipados/ipados-18-preview and apple.com/apple-intelligence . Features are subject to change. Some features are not available in all regions, all languages, or on all devices. For more information about availability, visit apple.com .

• Users with an eligible iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Siri and device language set to English (U.S.) can sign up this fall to access the Apple Intelligence beta.
• Testing was conducted by Apple in May 2023. See apple.com/safari for more information.

Press Contacts

Tara Courtney

[email protected]

Skylar Eisenhart

[email protected]

Apple Media Helpline

[email protected]

Images in this article

Apple Math Notes is actually the most innovative part of iPadOS 18. Here's why.

We waited 14 years for the iPad Calculator app. Was it worth it?

Apple released the first iPad in 2010, but it wasn’t until this week at WWDC 2024 that the iPad finally got the Calculator app. (Math somehow fell through the cracks in one iPadOS update after another over the past 14 years.) Of course, there are plenty of third-party calculator apps on the App Store, but I’ve always thought it’s odd that this basic app was missing from the iPad. 

That finally changed on Monday. There were rumors Apple would add the Calculator app to iPadOS this year, but I was hoping it would include some advanced features like graphing capabilities. What we got instead impressed me even more: An all-new app called Math Notes.

Not only does Math Notes arguably appear to be the most innovative feature in iPadOS 18, but it could also reveal how Apple can redefine what makes the iPad a must-have device.

While the sum of incremental updates to iPadOS 18 is a bit underwhelming, Math Notes stands out as something wholly new: It looks engaging, responsive, and even — a rarity for math among liberal arts graduates — fun. 

Not only does Math Notes arguably appear to be the most innovative feature in iPadOS 18, but it could also reveal how Apple can redefine what makes the iPad a must-have device. 

Math Notes is the ultimate homework tool for students 

When Apple revealed the Math Notes feature in the iPad Calculator app at WWDC on Monday, I thought, "This is a game-changer for students." 

Math Notes allows you to write math problems with the Apple Pencil and calculate solutions in the Notes app. When you write an equals sign, Math Notes will automatically run the numbers and add your answer. It will even recreate your handwriting so the solution matches the rest of your work. 

That's not all. Math Notes can also recognize variables, which means it can solve complex math problems for which you would typically need a scientific or graphing calculator. I was hoping the iPad Calculator app would be a graphing calculator. It isn't quite as powerful as my old TI-84 Plus, but Math Notes includes some basic graphing capabilities. 

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When you write out certain equations in Math Notes, like a basic parabolic function, you can tap the equals sign, and a little pop-up option will appear saying, "Insert Graph." If you select it, Math Notes will generate a graph of the function you wrote. 

These features are helpful for all kinds of tasks, but studying is where Math Notes will probably shine brightest. It could be an excellent tool for helping students visualize math problems and check their work. The iPad is already popular among students, so it's great to see Apple leaning into that with a perfect tool for studying.

Math Notes isn't just good for students, though. It's also suitable for the iPad because it could hint at a path forward for this struggling product category. 

How Math Notes leverages the iPad’s unique strengths 

Math Notes isn't the first iPad app to include advanced math features like generating graphs or solving equations. WolframAlpha has been offering tools like that for years. However, WolframAlpha is much more complicated than Math Notes and doesn't allow you to write math problems by hand. In contrast, Math Notes is simple to use, integrated seamlessly into iPadOS, and designed specifically for the Apple Pencil. 

That's what makes this feature innovative and unique. Unlike so many other iPad apps, Apple apparently created Math Notes for the iPad first and foremost. It utilizes the unique capabilities and strengths of the Apple Pencil, which is increasingly becoming the iPad's stand-out feature. 

When the iPad initially launched, it was mainly a large-screen companion to the iPhone . In the past 14 years, iPhone screens have gotten much larger, making the iPad's value proposition less appealing. At the same time, the MacBook line-up has gotten lighter and slimmer but remained more powerful than the iPad.

These factors are leaving the iPad in an awkward spot, and it's showing in sales data, too. iPad sales were down in Apple's Q2 2024 earnings report , the most recent one ahead of WWDC. Apple must redefine what makes the iPad unique and what it has that the iPhone and MacBook don't. The most obvious solution is the Apple Pencil.

Apple must redefine what makes the iPad unique and what it has that the iPhone and MacBook don't. The most obvious solution is the Apple Pencil.

Apps like Math Notes create unique value for the iPad centered around the Pencil. You'll be able to use Math Notes on the iPhone and Mac, but you can only use the full Apple Pencil version on the iPad. Apple Pencil-focused features like this create compelling reasons to use an iPad without taking anything away from the iPhone and Mac. That could be the key to the future of the iPad and iPadOS.

Is this a peek at the future of the iPad? 

The iPad has had an interesting couple of years. 2023 was the first year in the iPad's history when Apple released no new iPads. Apple did a 180 in 2024 by launching four new iPads and a redesigned Apple Pencil and giving the iPad Pro the M4 chip before the Mac. Despite all those hardware upgrades, iPadOS remains somewhat clunky and half-baked, holding the iPad back from becoming a true laptop replacement. 

The Math Notes app got me thinking, though—maybe the iPad's future isn't as a laptop replacement. Maybe its potential lies in the Apple Pencil. 

There are countless things you can do on a phone or laptop that are more natural with a pencil, like drawing or solving math problems. The iPad is uniquely positioned to quite literally tap into all those possibilities. Math Notes is a perfect example of how designing apps and features for the Apple Pencil can create value for the iPad. If Apple can bring more apps like this to the platform, the iPad could become a must-have device rather than a pricey companion to the iPhone and Mac. 

Math Notes is a great feature on its own, but what it represents really counts: the Apple Pencil is the key to the iPad's future. 

More from Laptop Mag

• iPadOS 18 preview: Apple Intelligence, new features, release date, and more
• Apple warns against cloud-AI data collection, leans into on-device AI
• Is the Apple Pencil Pro worth buying? A singular new feature could propel it to the mainstream

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist specializing in keyboards, peripherals, gaming gear, and mobile tech. Outside of writing, Stevie loves indie games, photography, and building way too many custom keyboards

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