Wolfram Alpha math result does not meet expectation

Voxel

Even worse, in some cases it just rephrases the original query instead of actually calculating anything:

I don't mind fractional answers, but it should definitely also include the decimal expansion.

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.

stone

Trying to divide math problems will sometimes result in repeating the equation with a simplified fraction instead of giving the answer.

This is inconsistent across the calculator widget, search results, the search preview, and the !calculator bang

For example:
600 divided by 500 (in preview; proper answer)

600 divided by 500 (after searching, displays fraction)

This seems to happen when a problem has multiple zero's, but is very inconsistent in my testing results:
"60/50" = 6/5
"600/50" = 12
"6/5" = 1.2
"60/50 !calculator" = 1.2 \ a real number that is equal to 6 5ths:

Original query: 6310/730
Original result: 631/70
Intended result: 8.64383562

brotis

I think this is fixed-ish? I am getting decimal approximation for most of the inputs described in this thread now.

That said, I'm not really getting any value out of the Wolfram Alpha integration personally, and would rather have the calculator/computer widget come up so that I can continue to interact with the results. If that's not going to happen, could we get a bang to force the calculator widget or a way to trigger it with a query param so we can add a custom bang?

Vlad

brotis This will come as step two, we needed to get results to be accurate first.

ruihildt

Whilst he answer is correct, when I search for 2200/12, I expect to have an answer like "550/3".

I expect to have an answer like "183.333333".

The answer was noted as given by Wolfram Alpha, and giving it a thumb down changed it to the correct answer.

I'm not sure what that means though, all future math operations will not use Wolfram Alfa in the future?

If that's a setting, can I manually change that somewhere?

sefidel

Possible duplicate of https://kagifeedback.org/d/3189-wolfram-alpha-math-result-does-not-meet-expectation

ruihildt

It is indeed a dupe, didn't find it. Feel free to close/merge.

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