Google Search Can Now Answer Geometry Questions
Let's face it, one of the toughest parts of going through school is dealing with the complex math questions that you're bound to encounter along the way. You might have already heard someone jokingly say “I wish Google would just give me the answers to my algebra and geometry quizzes.” Well, not surprisingly Google has added yet another amazing feature to their search engine, this time in the form of a quick geometry calculator that lets you determine the perimeter, volume, area, and other attributes of virtually any type of shape.
To use the feature, a searcher would simply have to enter in a search term like “perimeter of an octagon” and the geometry calculator interface would appear with several fields for you to input the dimensions of the shape you're solving for.
In our example below we ask Google to solve for the surface area of a cube that has an edge of 7.7 inches. As you can see by the picture below, the shape mentioned is listed at the top followed by a drop down menu that lets you solve for various attributes. Alternatively, you can refer to the formula provided to perform the calculation manually. If you click the large down arrow at the bottom of the window you'll bring up the written solution to the equation.
You can also type in a command like “solve triangle” or “area of rectangle.” You could even ask “what is the surface of a cube.” The answer to literally any fundamental 3D or graphical math question is now at your fingertips directly within Google search.
This is a huge breakthrough for students and parents everywhere because it essentially means that Google can now answer all of your basic geometry questions in a fraction of a second. While geometry calculators are nothing new and there are plenty of sites that host them, being able to access this type of advanced tool from directly within the Google search interface is certainly a pleasant advantage for all the busy struggling math students out there.
News of the new feature has been largely overlooked as it has been around for about a week now and only a few bloggers have mentioned it here and there. Still, most math students, teachers, and parents are likely to soon stumble upon and appreciate Google's geometry calculating capabilities.
