Netbook Network

If you’re a student and own a netbook, chances are you’ll be lugging around a graphing calculator with you. Except, graphing calculators are pretty heavy (TI-Nspire anyone?) and you probably have a netbook for one of its main selling points, portability. Now, you can “merge” the two devices by using Microsoft Mathematics, a free desktop graphing calculator for you math nerds.

Microsoft Mathematics supports a fairly wide range of features, including both 2D and 3D graphing, step-by-step equation solving, equation factoring, and more. You’ll also find a triangle solver and unit converter, all organized via the Ribbon interface (which of course, can be minimized just like any other Ribbon application). You can input matrices, variables, data sets, and more – Microsoft Mathematics will spit out a set of options each time.

Data and previously entered expressions are saved in what’s known as a worksheet, which you can save, open, and edit via Microsoft Mathematics. Worksheets are great if you want to look back at your work or build upon work that you have previously saved, or if you want to share work previously done.

You can use the graphing calculator on the left, supporting inputs from calculus to linear algebra to input equations and numbers onto the worksheet. The virtual calculator supports basic skinning, so if you don’t like the default one, you can swap it other skins with various colors and button sizes. Alternatively, you could just type in expressions using the keyboard – and Microsoft Mathematics will format equations as you type them. Stylus input (known as “inking”) is also supported for those who have devices with touchscreens, so you can just draw out equations and they’ll automatically be formatted for you.

For graphing, both Cartesian and polar coordinates are supported, including the ability to view data sets and trace your graph. Graphs can be rotated and exported as images for sharing or the web.

Also included is a database of various equations, covering algebra to physics to chemistry. It’s handy for reference and equations can be used in the worksheet at any time.

Best of all, Microsoft Mathematics is a completely free tool. It supports both Windows 7 and Windows XP and will run pretty well on most netbooks. More information, system requirements, step-by-step tutorials, and download links can be found at its website.