How well does iPadOS 18 make your iPad better at math?

If you’re a STEM student, your classes will likely involve a lot of math. Even though you bought an iPad specifically for school, many people never expected it to help them with their math, especially since it didn’t have a Calculator app until now. With iPadOS 18, that’s finally changing, thanks to Math Notes.

1. Solve questions immediately by handwriting

If you thought the iPad's large screen made it difficult to perform calculations in the Calculator app, Math Notes is about to be a game-changer for you.

After updating to iPadOS 18, go to the Calculator app and tap the little Calculator button . You'll see three options: Basic, Scientific , and Maths Notes . Tap Math Notes and open a new note by tapping the note icon in the upper right corner.

While Math Notes works with typed text, it can be a little difficult to type mathematical symbols. Luckily, while you can only type on your iPhone or Mac, you can use your Apple Pencil on your iPad! To get started, tap the markup icon in the upper right corner.

All you have to do is write a mathematical expression and add an equal sign (=) at the end, and Math Notes will do the work for you. Not only will it solve the equation, it will do it with your own handwriting!

While I would like the option to change the color of the answer, just having it appear in handwriting is impressive enough.

2. Not limited to basic calculations

If you see someone trying out Math Notes, you might see them doing basic math, like adding two numbers together. But Math Notes doesn't stop there.

You can use it to handle more advanced functions available in Scientific Calculator mode, including basic trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan), hyperbolic trigonometric functions (sinh, cosh, tanh), logarithmic and exponential equations, and more.

For example, instead of just adding two numbers, you can add two trigonometric ratios, as shown below.

Unfortunately, Math Notes falls short when it comes to more complex, high-level math like algebraic equations like quadratic and cubic equations. For example, Math Notes cannot help you solve an integral equation.

One of my favorite features of Math Notes is that you don't have to rewrite equations and manually change values ​​each time. Instead, you can declare variables in your expressions, assign values ​​to them, and reference them in expressions and equations!

Just write the variable name, followed by an equals sign (=), and assign a value to the variable. Now, write the equation involving the variable, add an equals sign (=), and you're done!

Note that Math Notes works like an interpreter and reads equations line by line, so make sure to declare variables before writing equations.

3. Answers are updated in real time

Sometimes you might want to change the value assigned to a variable or modify a number in an equation. Instead of rewriting the entire equation or creating a new variable, all you have to do is delete the number and replace it. The original answer will disappear and update automatically within seconds.

For example, all that is done in the screenshot below is adjust the value assigned to one of the variables in the previous screenshot. Check out how the responses are automatically updated!

Alternatively, you can tap on a number and a slider will appear. You can then slide left or right to adjust the value and see the effect on the equation. This is especially useful when evaluating limits in questions, as you can quickly see what value the equation is approaching.

4. Create graphs with just one tap

This is where Math Notes really shines. When you write an equation with two unknown variables (like y = mx + c), a menu will immediately appear with the Insert Graph option .

Once you do, the graph will be generated within a few seconds. You can drag your finger along the graph to see the coordinates of any point. You can also swipe with two fingers to navigate through the graph and even zoom in or out.

But even better, you can also write a new equation and choose to insert it into your existing graph. This is especially useful when solving simultaneous equations or finding the intersection of two graphs. Each graph is inserted in a different color, so you can recolor it if needed.

Just like you can use all the functions available in Scientific Calculator mode when evaluating an equation, you can do the same when graphing. This means you can graph trigonometric ratios, logarithmic and exponential functions, and more. You can even see the effect on the graph if you edit the equation in real time! Since Math Notes supports variables, the equation you graph can also include defined variables.

5. Real-time unit conversion

Sure, you may not be using the Pythagorean theorem or calculating distances using the Euclidean distance formula anymore. But one thing you can still do is look up unit conversions. Whether you're tired of converting km/h to m/s or just want to convert currencies, Math Notes has you covered! Just write something like "10 KG to pounds," followed by an equals sign (=), and watch the tool work its magic.

You can even do calculations between different units, such as adding 100 cm and 10 meters!

Another way to convert units in the Calculator app is to tap on the Calculator icon and enable the Convert option .

It took Apple 14 years to bring the Calculator app to the iPad, but it's nice to see it finally here. And one thing's for sure: when Apple does something, they do it better than anyone else, and the Calculator app is a prime example of that.