Staff Writer & Math Tools Reviewer
University Math Lecturer · EdTech Content Creator · Calculus Specialist
Years teaching
Tools reviewed
Calcs covered
Math, B.S.
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“Most students don’t fail calculus because it’s too hard — they fail because no tool has ever shown them the reasoning behind each step. A good solver doesn’t just give you the answer; it teaches you the structure of mathematical thinking. That’s the standard I use when I review every tool on this site.”
— Greg Palmer, Symbolab Math Solver
About
Greg Palmer is a university mathematics lecturer and online learning content creator with seven years of experience teaching calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations at the undergraduate level. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from MIT, where he developed a deep interest in how symbolic computation tools can bridge the gap between formal mathematical notation and genuine student understanding.
Before joining the Symbolab Math Solver team, Greg taught at two universities and spent three years developing online course content for a MOOC platform — writing step-by-step explanations for over 400 calculus problems and evaluating which AI-powered tools best replicated the clarity of a live classroom walkthrough. That experience gave him a precise benchmark for what “good” looks like when a solver explains a derivative or an integral.
At Symbolab Math Solver, Greg reviews the platform’s calculator suite — from limits and derivatives to matrices and series — evaluating step-by-step solution quality, explanation depth, and accuracy across difficulty levels. His reviews focus on a single question: does this tool actually help students understand the math, or does it just hand them an answer to copy?
Expertise
Calculus (Derivatives & Integrals)
Linear Algebra & Matrices
Limits & Series
Differential Equations
AI Math Solver Reviews
Symbolab Calculator Suite
Step-by-Step Explanation Quality
Trigonometry & Geometry
Statistics & Probability
EdTech Content Creation
Online Course Design
MOOC Platform Reviews
Education & Background
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B.S. Mathematics — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Focus on real analysis, abstract algebra, and numerical methods. Coursework included symbolic computation and the mathematical foundations of computer algebra systems.
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University Lecturer — Calculus & Linear Algebra (7 years)
Taught undergraduate calculus and linear algebra at two universities. Developed step-by-step explanation frameworks that reduced student failure rates in first-year calculus by 30% over three semesters.
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Online Course Developer — MOOC Platform (3 years)
Wrote and recorded step-by-step walkthroughs for 400+ calculus problems. Evaluated AI solvers for accuracy, explanation clarity, and pedagogical value — building a systematic framework for comparing math tool quality.
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Staff Writer & Reviewer — Symbolab Math Solver
Reviews Symbolab’s full calculator suite across algebra, calculus, matrices, and statistics. Tests step-by-step solution quality against university-level problem sets and writes practical guides for students from AP level through graduate coursework.
Review methodology
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Multi-level problem testing
Every calculator is tested with problems ranging from high school to university level — basic derivatives to multivariable calculus.
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Step-by-step quality audit
Each solution step is checked against textbook methodology — does the tool explain the rule applied, or just show the arithmetic?
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Accuracy verification
Final answers are cross-checked using independent CAS tools and solved manually to confirm 99%+ accuracy claims hold in practice.
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Edge case stress testing
Unusual inputs — improper integrals, undefined limits, degenerate matrices — are tested to see where the solver breaks down or gives misleading output.
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Student usability check
Tools are evaluated from a first-year student’s perspective — can someone with no prior knowledge follow the steps to genuine understanding?
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Cross-device testing
Calculators are tested on desktop, tablet, and mobile — because most students solve homework on their phones, not a laptop.
