Equation solver for algebra, arithmetic, inequalities & quadratics
One tool for any equation you're working through — linear, quadratic, an inequality, or a plain arithmetic expression. Type it in and follow the working.
Part of SolveStep's free math solver, alongside dedicated tools for algebra, geometry, statistics, and matrices.
How to type an equation
2x + 5 = 15
Standard one-variable equations.
5x - 3 = 3x + 9
Variables appearing on either side of "=".
x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0
Use "^2" for squared terms.
3/4 + 1/2
Exact fraction arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
3(x + 2) = 2x - 4
Distribution is handled automatically.
(2 + 3) * 4 - 1
Full order-of-operations breakdown.
4x - 5 > 2x + 3
Solves like an equation, flipping the sign on a negative divide.
sin(30) + log(100)
Trig functions evaluate in degrees; log() is base 10, ln() is natural.
Why step-by-step matters
An answer alone tells you nothing about where a mistake happened. Seeing each transformation — move a term, combine like terms, divide by a coefficient — lets you compare your own working line by line and find exactly where it diverged.
Built for speed
There's no server round-trip: the solver runs client-side in your browser, so results appear instantly, even on a slow connection.
Solving an inequality, start to finish
An inequality with a negative coefficient
3 − 2x ≥ 9- Move everything to one side: subtract 9 from both sides to get -2x - 6 ≥ 0.
- Isolate the x-term: add 6 to both sides to get -2x ≥ 6.
- Divide both sides by -2 — and because you divided by a negative number, flip the inequality sign.
- The result is x ≤ -3, or in interval notation, (-∞, -3].
Equation solver FAQ
What kinds of equations can this solve?
Linear equations, quadratic equations, and linear inequalities, plus arithmetic and fraction expressions, roots, percentages, factorials, and sin/cos/tan/log/ln evaluated in degrees.
Can it solve inequalities?
Yes — type an inequality with <, >, <=, or >= and SolveStep isolates x, correctly flips the sign when dividing by a negative number, and reports the answer in interval notation.
Does it verify the answer automatically?
Yes. After solving a linear or quadratic equation, SolveStep substitutes the solution back into the original equation and shows both sides matching.
Is it accurate with fractions and decimals?
Arithmetic uses exact fraction math internally rather than floating-point decimals, so results like 1/3 + 1/6 come out as exact fractions, not rounded approximations.
How is this different from a typical math equation solver?
Most tools like it show only the final answer or hide steps behind a paywall. SolveStep shows every step for free, with no account and no upload — the equation never leaves your browser.