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Get step-by-step solutions with Wolfram|Alpha Pro?

Grant Larsen, The Principia
Posted 7 years ago

One of the advertised features of Wolfram Alpha Pro is that it gives access to step-by-step solutions. I've just started using Pro, and I can't seem to get them to show up consistently. For instance, it pops up as an option for this query 

Integrate[(5x+1)^2,x]

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=integrate%5B(5x%2B1)%5E2,x%5D

but not for 

Sum[(-1)^m/((2m-1)^2-1),{m,2,infty}]

https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Sum%5B(-1)%5Em%2F((2m-1)%5E2-1),%7Bm,2,infty%7D%5D

I guess my question boils down to:

  • When can/does wolfram know how to do step-by-step solutions?
  • When it is possible, how can one get access to them?

Thanks in advance.
POSTED BY: Grant Larsen
2 Replies
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Thanks. I had seen the list (examples/StepByStepSolutions), but had taken it as non-comprehensive ("a few examples of ..."), whereas your phrase "availability type list" sounds comprehensive. Those blog posts definitely help establish the dynamic nature of their applicability.

I guess my contention is that if Wolfram is selling a product, there ought to be somewhere where a customer can find a reasonable guide of when they can expect to be able to use it. If that list is comprehensive, then it fulfills that (though it should be labeled as such).
POSTED BY: Grant Larsen

I doubt there is anything you can learn beyond whatever already mentioned here: http://www.wolframalpha.com/pro

  • When can/does wolfram know how to do step-by-step solutions?
  • When it is possible, how can one get access to them?

Just check and see when there is a button saying it and to access click on it? There is an infinity of various types of problems and my guess is they are adding step-by-step on case-to-case basis. The availability type list is kept here:

https://www.wolframalpha.com/examples/StepByStepSolutions.html

There is a bunch of blogs from where it is obvious the functionality is being constantly added:

Quoting one:

Wolfram|Alpha Pro has become well known for its ability to show not only the answer to a question, but also the Step-by-step solution to show how to find the answer. Since its first release, we have developed new features and content for Step-by-step solutions. We’ve added hints and the ability to walk through problems one step at a time, and we’ve added support to show multiple methods for solving problems whenever possible.

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POSTED BY: Sam Carrettie
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