Zift Advisory
Photomath is a camera calculator that will solve math problem just from a photo and provide users with step-by-step instructions. Photomath is a free educational app available in the Apple iTunes App Store and the Google Play store. This app is safe for kids with parental supervision.
What is Photomath?
Photomath is a camera calculator that will solve math problem just from a photo and provide users with step-by-step instructions. Photomath is a free educational app available in the Apple iTunes App Store and the Google Play store.
Photomath is the next evolutionary step of the calculator, using sophisticated technology to solve math problems from a scanned picture. The program has the ability to recognize handwritten problems in the picture, as well as neater typed problems.
It is simple, users just open the app, focus the camera on the problem, and the program spits out the answer and the steps to getting there. Photomath supports a wide range of complex math problems and equations, including but not limited to, roots, logarithmic and exponential functions, trigonometry, systems of equations, and quadratic equations.
Once the program scans the problem from the camera, it will provide the answer and the step-by-step solution within a few seconds. Photomath receives glowing reviews from students struggling with math homework, and boasts an average of 4.8 out of 5 in the iTunes app store reviews section.
Is Photomath safe for my kids?
Photomath, in its essential function, is a safe app for kids to use, that function being math and math only, without options to chat or meet people.
The real question is about cheating, or relying on the app where the brain should be applied.
Parents should know that the app will provide solutions to kids’ math homework quickly and easily, and while it does provide the steps to attaining the solution, those can easily be glossed over in the name of expediency.
Now, there are certainly benefits to this stunning technology, as Photomath can really help when students are stuck on a tough problem, and teach them the method to solving it, which is great for those who are honestly struggling. But I’m sure we can all see how this could easily be abused, as human nature tells us the path of least resistance is often the path taken, especially when the task at hand is one that we in which we have low interest.
For many, math is a task in which we have low interest, and Photomath can provide that path of least resistance. Using Photomath as a tool for expediency hinders development in math, while providing false results of success, which becomes a serious problem when test time comes around and kids realize they do not know how to solve the problems because they had relied on the app for every round of practice.
Photomath is not allowed in the SATs. But further than just tests, these math skills are valuable for the rest of our lives, and by relying on Photomath for the sake of finishing homework quickly will deprive kids of those important skills.
The key to safe usage is responsibility and honesty from kids, and attentiveness and guidance from parents, who should take the time to make sure kids are not abusing Photomath.
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