Instead of doing fractions, Bing made some odd assumptions that I just wanted to multiple or divide the numbers that were next to each other. I got back:Īgain, for the screenshot-challenged, Bing processed my calculation like this: I know that Bing also does math, so I tried things over there. You know, a whole number followed by any fractional amount. That’s correct in decimal form, but the exercise required the product to be expressed as mixed fractions. But was there a quick way to double check? Well, I tried Google and got back:įor those who can’t see the screenshot above, that was:

I thought I was explaining how to do them right, as we worked through the homework exercises. Instead, read this page buried in the Google help files to discover how the Google Calculator can do trigonometric functions, logarithms and factorials.įancy! But how about dealing with lowly fractions? Last night, I was dealing with problems like these: That “More about calculator” link in the screenshot above unfortunately takes you to this entirely unhelpful page. You can do a wide range of functions using the Google Calculator. Want to know 345,567 / 23? Enter that into Google, and you get back the answer: 15,024.6522: Indeed, I use it for this more than my pocket calculator, these days. One of Google’s earliest parlor tricks was allowing people to enter math problems into its search box and get answers. But to be certain, could search engines help as a double-check? Enter the awesomeness of Wolfram Alpha.ĭoing math through a search engine isn’t new. Last night, I found myself dealing with how to multiply fractions as part of helping with his homework assignment. But now math is spinning back around and haunting me in the form of my fifth grader.

Math site wolfram alpha