Previously, the search engine displayed the calculation and its answer. Microsoft’s Bing still performs in a similar way. When you enter a mathematical equation like “2+2” into the search box, Google will now give you the answer in a spiffy new calculator.
To fire up Google’s new 34-button virtual handy calculator with scientific functions, simply type “calculator” into the search box. This new Google feature is available across most browsers (both web and mobile).
Once the calculator pops-up, you can tap numbers and scientific functions to send it a new equation. The search box will also still work for that.
Before this addition, Google allowed users to enter any complex calculation such as “25*39+(sqrt 10)^3” into its search tool. The search engine would then spit out the answer. However, this is the first time that Google has displayed an actual calculator users can interact with.
Google’s calculator function is nothing new, but the new 34-button virtual scientific calculator is.
According to PCMag report, “Users have been able to search for equations for a while and quickly see the answer on the search results page, and we recently expanded the feature to include a graphing function and 3D graphing,” a Google spokeswoman said in an email to PCMag. “Today we have updated the calculator feature to be more intuitive and easy to use.”
Among other things, the calculator has a full complement of scientific functions, including sin, cos, tan, log, exponential calculation, and square roots. Mobile users may have to view the calculator in landscape mode to see all the functions.
Although the calculator might seem like a small addition to its search, this scientific calculator joins Google’s graphing calculator, also accessible from the search bar, which was introduced more than a year ago, to the delight of math geeks everywhere.
More so, Google keeps on adding new features to its search. Back in May, for example, Google launched its Knowledge Graph, providing facts about 500 million people, places, and things, in relevant query results. The move could reduce its searchers’ need to click through to other sites.
Nonetheless, now that Google has incorporated a scientific calculator into search, maybe it should consider introducing a business calculator, as well. That type of calculator would appeal to a wider audience and could be chosen as an alternative to the scientific calculator through a settings option.