Wolfram Alpha math result does not meet expectation

brotis

Search Query:
168000/130

My expectation is that Kagi act as a calculator and provide a decimal result, however instead it reduces the fraction to 16800/13.

Wolfram Alpha seems to return a variety of results, but Kagi is only choosing to display the first one, which I don't think is the result that meets users expectation (Google will bring up the calculator widget with a decimal result in this scenario).

KagiForMe

I feel like this should be a toggle, as I do not want to loose the ability to see exact results. E.g. I don't want for it to spit out 0.69 when I want log(2).

While we're at it, this happened:

I feel like the WA query should use a line break here, as I do not dislike the amount of digits.

brotis

KagiForMe I don't see any reason that multiple result format couldn't be displayed, similar to wolfram alpha... BUT, I don't think wolfram alpha should be queried at all for simple arithmetic. Google, Bing, DDG, etc. all open a calculator. Kagi opened a calculator until today. My expectation is to be able to continue to interact with the output of the calculation which displaying a read-only result from wolfram alpha does not allow me to do.

Vlad

brotis This is probably better suitable for a separate feature suggestion.

Browsing6853

@"brotis"#p15811Agreed

If I were to chose one it would be the simple decimal representation, which doesn't even require wolfram alpha.

I really doubt anyone will ever even trust Kagi's one line answer for a more sophisticated equation, which is where other formats like fractional or even graphical representation would come handy. Even Wolfram Alpha doesn't parse correctly some equations in the first attempt (at least you can check how they parsed there).

brotis

Vlad I don't understand what you mean by new feature?

Two days ago I got the computer widget for this simple arithmetic, now I get wolfram alpha fraction reduction. There is no way (that I am aware of) to force the computer widget to appear. That seems like a bug?

brotis

I can't really understand when I will get the computer widget and when I will get WA. It matters because I don't need to enter the entirety of my equation when I get the computer widget as I can continue to interact with it and build the result iteratively. If I know I am going to get WA I will have to be sure to enter my full equation in the search box.

Vlad

brotis Yeah I think there is a place for calculator but we need to figure out what a "simple" math query mean which is why I suggested making a feature suggestion. Fwiw you can still trigger calculatuor with 'calc' anytime.

Thygrrr

Sorry to be rude, but COME ON - any multi-term calculation should be automatically interpreted as calculator input.

This query works
200000*48
("9600000")

This query gives a 5th grade school teacher answer
200000*48/1024²
("9375/1024") - literally WHAT? I'd expect a decimal, not a fraction here.

Any reasonable mathematical term (refer to the calculator feature set of, say, G*****), should be interpreted as expected

Vlad

Thygrrr Note you can also type 'calc' to trigger a calculator in Kagi.

Peter_S

For the first query, it would be helpful to have some kind of separation of digits in the answer - e.g. either 9,600,000 or with decimal separator depending on regional settings, or just with spaces: 9 600 000.

The second answer is correct. I would absolutely expect to see a fractional answer here, as that is the exact answer, while a decimal would only be an approximation. That's what is taught and used in higher level (degree and beyond) maths, here in UK at least - maybe it's a regional thing to expect different. No harm in adding a 'convert to decimal' and 'convert to scientific notation' button/option though, and that would be useful.

Edweis

Searching for "3128/12" returns "782/3" instead of "260.666667"

Expected to return "260.666667"

cadawg

I searched for "250/22" and got the above results.

I expect the calculator to give me a decimal value as most calculators would.

barbrzez

I agree - I think the integration with Wolfram Alpha is a bit wonky.

The answers I'm seeing are correct but not very useful 🙂
5% * 150 returns '15 halves'
150 * 5% doesn't trigger the calculator

Vlad

The integration is fine, but I agree that results returned from the Wolfram API (we show what we get) can be more straightforward in cases like this. We are working with their team to improve this, stay tuned!

bert

One idea would be that if a query is prefixed with an equals sign, always evaluate it using the calculator widget, never deferring to an external service.

Vlad

bert it is a fine idea, the problem would be discovery?

bert

Vlad I would consider it bang-like, the way ? at the end of a query brings up Quick Answer, and make its presence known the same way that bangs are publicized. The use of = in this way could also go in the More Info box in the calculator.

I also think a lone = should be the same as the query calculator (and bring up the calculator), which would be a hint that = is how you enter calculator mode, and e.g.,=1+2 would bring up the calculator with the line 1+2 = 3 already entered.