How to solve math with Math Notes in Calculator on iPad

You can solve mathematical expressions, create and use variables, or graph equations in Math Notes in the Calculator app—for example, when learning new concepts in class, doing day-to-day budgeting, planning an event, or remodeling your home.

You can type or write a math expression, and Math Notes automatically converts any units and currency used in expressions. You can also mix different systems, and any graphs using a value automatically update when you change it. You can choose how your iPad responds to the math problems you enter, too.

Note: Math Notes relies on common mathematical symbols and select numeric systems for written math and variable names, and it uses the same operations as the scientific calculator.

Solve expressions

1. Go to the Calculator app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Change Mode button and tap Math Notes.
3. Tap to open a previous Math Note, or tap the New Note button to start a new one.
4. Do any of the following:
   • Type a math expression, then include an equal sign.
   • Tap the Handwriting button, write a math expression horizontally, then include an equal sign.
   • Tap the Handwriting button, write a stack of numbers, then draw a horizontal line below the numbers to add the numbers in the stack. Write a different symbol to the left of each number if you want a different operation.
5. Tap the equal sign to see what Math Notes understood in what you wrote. To correct mistakes, you can fix any of the following:
   • Unrecognized math and unsolvable expressions: Tap any dotted red lines to see details about the error.
   • Ambiguous characters: Tap any dotted blue lines to clarify what you wrote.

Horizontal expressions follow the standard order of operations in Math Notes, so multiplication is completed before addition and subtraction, for instance. To have expressions calculated first, add parentheses around them. Math Notes evaluates vertically stacked math from top to bottom.

Math Notes converts any units and currency in your expressions automatically, and you can even mix different systems, like 42 meters + 143 feet. The units and currency it supports match the Convert mode of the basic or scientific calculator. For more about converting, check out our article, Convert units or currency.

Update values

1. Start the Calculator app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Change Mode button, tap Math Notes, and tap the note you want to update.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Erase the number, then enter a new value.
   • Tap the number, then slide left and right to adjust the value using the scrubber that appears above the number.
   • Using an Apple Pencil, hover over the number until you see a scrubber, then slide left and right to adjust the value.

Graphs that use the values update automatically, and so do the results or graphs of any equations using a variable the value was assigned to.

Use variables in expressions and equations

1. Start the Calculator app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Change Mode button and tap Math Notes.
3. Tap to open a Math Note in the sidebar, or tap the New Note button to start a new one.
4. To declare a variable, type or write a letter or word to use as the variable, followed by an equal sign.
5. Type or write a value or expression after the equal sign to assign a value to the variable.
6. Type or write the variable name in an expression or an equation to use it.

Note: Math Notes works through entries from top left to bottom right. Before you use a variable in an expression (such as x + 10 =), you have to declare it (for example, x = 5), or you’ll get an error. Variable names can contain only characters from the Latin alphabet, and vertical math doesn’t support variables.

Equations with two or three variables let you graph in two or three dimensions.

Show results automatically or as suggestions

You can choose how you want your iPad to respond to the math problems you enter in Math Notes.

1. Start the Calculator app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Change Mode button and tap Math Notes.
3. Tap to open a Math Note in the sidebar, or tap the New Note button to start a new one.
4. Enter text, or tap the Handwriting button and begin writing.
5. Tap the More button, tap Math Results, and then do one of the following:
   • If you want problems to be solved: Choose Insert Results. Answers appear automatically when you type or write a solvable math problem.
   • If you want suggestions to appear: Choose Suggest Results. When you type or write an equal sign or select a solvable math problem, a Solve button appears that, when tapped, inserts the answer.
   • If you don’t want any math results: Choose Off. Answers don’t appear when you type or write an equal sign after an expression.

Use a light background

Math Notes can switch from its default dark background to a light background instead.

1. Start the Calculator app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Change Mode button and tap Math Notes.
3. Tap to open a Math Note in the sidebar, or tap the New Note button to start a new one. Enter text or write.
4. Tap the More button and tap Use Light Background.

You can also show lines or grids in notes.

See also

• Use the scientific calculator on iPad
• Enter formulas and equations in Notes on iPad