Algebra Solver

The Algebra Solver handles expressions and equations from pre-algebra through college algebra. Simplify an expression. Factor a polynomial. Expand a product. Solve a linear equation, an inequality, an absolute-value equation, or a rational equation. Rewrite a radical or a logarithm. It picks the standard method for the form it sees, applies one transformation per step, and reports the result with any restrictions on the variable. Quadratics and systems of equations have dedicated solvers with method options; this solver will do them but the dedicated ones are better tuned. Complex fractions, negative exponents, and nested radicals are simplified with the intermediate forms shown, not jumped over.

Type the problem or photograph it. Include the instruction: "factor", "simplify", "solve for t", "expand". Without an instruction the solver guesses from the form, and it may guess wrong. Use standard notation: 3x^2 - 5x + 2, (x+1)/(x-3), sqrt(2x+1), log_2(x). Parentheses matter; write them where the textbook has them. The Answer form option controls whether the final value is exact, decimal, or both. For a rational expression, state whether you want it simplified or the equation solved; the two produce different output. If a variable is meant to be a constant, such as k in kx + 3 = 7, say "solve for x" so the solver does not treat k as the unknown. A photo of a handwritten line of algebra is read and echoed back before solving.

Output: the result first, then the chain of equivalent expressions or equations, each line a single move such as "distribute", "collect like terms", "divide both sides by 3". Domain restrictions and extraneous solutions are flagged. The working is shown so you can verify each line against the rules you were taught. For a quadratic, use the Quadratic Equation Solver to choose factoring, completing the square, or the formula. For two or more unknowns, use the System of Equations Solver. Ask a follow-up to see the same problem done by a different method, or to check your own attempt line by line against the solver's chain. That comparison is the fastest way to find the step where an attempt went wrong.