Thin Lens Equation Calc vs PyCalc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Thin Lens Equation Calc
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Thin Lens Calc. is the essential optics calculator for students, teachers, and engineers. Instantly solve the thin lens equation (1/f = 1/do + 1/di) for any unknown variable — focal length, object distance, or image distance — with real-time results and an interactive ray diagram. SOLVE ANY VARIABLE Select what you want to find, enter the two known values, and get the answer instantly. The app auto-calculates as you type or drag the slider, so you can explore how changing one parameter affects the others. INTERACTIVE RAY DIAGRAM Watch the ray diagram update live as you adjust values. See how light passes through converging and diverging lenses, where real and inverted images form, and how virtual images appear on the same side as the object. A visual way to build intuition for optics. STEP-BY-STEP SOLUTIONS Tap to reveal a full algebraic walkthrough of each calculation — from the starting equation through substitution, simplification, and unit conversion. Perfect for checking homework or learning the method. UNIT CONVERSION BUILT IN Switch freely between millimeters, centimeters, and meters for each field independently. The app handles all conversions internally so you never have to convert by hand. FEATURES • Solve for focal length (f), object distance (do), or image distance (di) • Live-updating ray diagram with object and image arrows • Step-by-step solution breakdown • Unit pickers (mm, cm, m, in, ft) per field • Adjustable decimal precision (0–10 digits) • Tap-to-copy results to clipboard • Save calculations to history (SwiftData) • Negative value support for virtual images and diverging lenses • Scientific notation for extreme values • No ads, no subscriptions, no internet required Built for physics students studying geometric optics, teachers preparing demonstrations, and anyone who needs a fast, reliable thin lens calculator on their iPhone or iPad. Thanks for your support, and please visit nitrio.com for more apps for your iOS devices.
PyCalc
This app offers a revolutionary approach to mobile calculations, allowing users to view and edit entire equations at once. It leverages the power of Python 3.11.1 for advanced functions, symbolic math, and financial analysis, making complex computations accessible on the go.
- Real-time editable calculation view
- Python 3.11.1 interpreter
- Programmable scientific calculator
- Support for matrices and fractions
- Built-in Python packages (math, sympy)
- Financial analysis functions
- Symbolic math capabilities
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What most people love first about PyCalc is that they can see and edit their entire calculation all at once. It's a simple idea but it makes a huge difference in the kinds of calculations people end up doing on mobile. But that just scratches the surface of PyCalc's features and capabilities. The more you learn, the more you'll see how easy it is to do calculations that were always too hard before on mobile. Jump in and learn a truly better way of calculating. Basic features: ● A new and better approach to mobile calculation ● A cleaner interface for complicated calculations than traditional calculators ● Calculate by voice ● A history list keeps track of your previous calculations ● Functions built in for a huge range of applications ● Multiple keyboards optimized for different use cases Advanced features: ● Based on the Python® language, with access to the power of a full Python 3.11.1 interpreter ● Programmable scientific calculator: An editable startup.py script allows you to define your own functions for easy access later ● Streamlined support for matrices and fractions ● Many standard Python packages, such as: math, statistics, random, sympy, mpmath, fractions, decimal and datetime ● Basic financial analysis functions: pv(), fv(), npv(), pmt(), etc. ● Built-in support for complex numbers ● Symbolic math via the sympy package ● http/https queries via requests package ● Much, much more... "Python" and the Python Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Python Software Foundation, used by the PyCalc project with permission from the Foundation.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PyCalc at Free against Thin Lens Equation Calc's $2.99. PyCalc also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 27 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
PyCalc is free to download; Thin Lens Equation Calc costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Thin Lens Equation Calc ships an update every 27 months, PyCalc every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Thin Lens Equation Calc | PyCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (18 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 18 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 120 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nitrio | Youreka Tech, LLC |
In-app purchases
Thin Lens Equation Calc
No in-app purchases
PyCalc
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Thin Lens Equation Calc free?
Is PyCalc free?
Do Thin Lens Equation Calc or PyCalc have ads?
Which is updated more often, Thin Lens Equation Calc or PyCalc?
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