Learning, Sharing, and Teaching > Reader Recommendations

Soulver - Back of the Napkin Calculations

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senecando:
In the spirit of the most recent post, I thought I'd share an app I use on the Mac quite a bit called Soulver: http://www.acqualia.com/soulver/

It's a cross between a calculator and a notepad.

I end up using this all the time to do quick calculations: comparing price per unit, moving money around, price over time for items. It's 20 bucks, but I've found it worth that--if only because I end up doing more of the back of the napkin stuff than I ever would otherwise since the app is actually pleasant to use.

Hopefully this doesn't sound like too much of an ad, but I guess it sort of is.

yolfer:
So it's like Wolfram Alpha but you have to pay for it?

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%2420+a+night+x+3+nights

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%24339+-+20%25+discount

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=40+as+a+%25+of+200

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%2430+USD+%2B+%E2%82%AC10.30+in+British+Pounds

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=23+years+in+seconds

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%5EDJI

etc

senecando:
Not really. Wolfram Alpha is essentially a calculator, as far as I understand it. This is a notepad that has calculator functions.

Here's an example of how I find it useful. Say you are looking at two different cars that will have different MPG and insurance rates. I could set up a doc like in the attachment and then change the variables and see how much the total yearly cost changes depending on: gas prices, insurance premiums, mileage, how much you might drive in various scenarios.

Yes, there are cheaper options. Maybe it's just for people who don't love being in Excel. I enjoy getting things out of my head and being able to see them this more human way. YMMV (ha!).

yolfer:
Oh, ok. It's more than I imagined based on the simple calculations on the demo. I love spreadsheets but for those who don't, it's a great idea.

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