Convert and solve math equations

Applies To: OneNote for Windows 10

Write or type any math problem and OneNote for Windows 10 solves it for you — letting you get to the answer quickly, or showing you step-by-step instructions that help you learn how OneNote arrived at the solution. From basic math to calculus, OneNote’s ink math assistant is everything you always wished a calculator could do.

Note: This feature is only available if you have an Office 365 subscription. If you are an Office 365 subscriber, make sure you have the latest version of Office.

Step 1: Write or type an equation

OneNote’s ink math assistant works best by handwriting equations on any touchscreen-capable Windows 10 laptop or tablet, but you can also try writing with a mouse or pen input tablet on a standard PC, or use your keyboard to type out your equations.

In OneNote for Windows 10, go to any page, and then click or tap the Draw tab.
On the Draw tab, click or tap the pen that you want to use.
Click or tap the small arrow that appears next to the pen you selected, and then choose the stroke width and ink color that you want to use.
Next, do one of the following:
- If you’re using a touchscreen device, write your equation with your finger or stylus.
- If you’re using a PC with a standard monitor, write your equation with your mouse or pen input tablet, or use your keyboard to type your equation.

Step 2: Select the equation

Before OneNote can solve your equation, select the ink strokes or typed text that you want it to recognize.

On the Draw tab, select the Lasso Select tool.
With your finger or mouse, drag a selection around the equation that you created in Step 1. When you let go, all ink strokes or text in your equation should appear selected.

Step 3: Use the Math button

When your equation is selected, do the following:

On the Draw tab, click or tap the Math button.

Important: Math features in OneNote for Windows 10 are available only with an active Office 365 subscription. If you don’t see the Math button on the Draw tab, make sure you’re signed into OneNote with the same account that is registered to your subscription.

Click the Settings and More button in the upper right corner, click Settings, and then click Accounts. If your Office 365 subscription account isn’t already listed, click the + Add account button, follow the steps to sign in, and then restart OneNote for Windows 10.

If you still don’t see the Math button after signing in and restarting the app, check your Office 365 subscription renewal status to make sure that your subscription is still active.
In the Math pane that opens, confirm that OneNote correctly recognized your equation.

If necessary, select Fix It to make any corrections to individual ink strokes. While in Fix It mode, you can use the Lasso Select tool to select any incorrectly recognized symbol or a specific part of the equation and OneNote will offer alternatives for you to choose from.
Click the Settings button if you want to switch between solving real numbers and complex numbers, or if you want to set the angle measurement of graphs to degrees, radians, or gradians.
To solve the current equation, do any of the following:
- Click or tap the Select an action box and then choose what you want OneNote to do with the selected math equation. The available choices in this drop-down menu depend on the selected equation.
  
  Review the solution that OneNote displays underneath the action you selected. In the example below, the selected option Solve for x displays the solution.
  
  Tip: You can drag the solution to any place on your page.
- To learn how OneNote solved the problem, you can click or tap Show steps, and then select the detail of what you want to view. The available choices in this drop-down menu depend on the selected equation.
  
  Tip: You can drag the solution steps to any place on your page.
  
  Source