Comparison

Mathemagics vs Reading Skills 4A

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Mathemagics

Master algebra with rare, lightning-fast calculation techniques. Learn through animated lessons and practice with endless, randomly generated problems. Prepare for standardized tests and improve mental math skills.

Highlights
  • Learn rare algebra techniques
  • Animated step-by-step lessons
  • Practice with random questions
  • Gain achievements
  • Improve calculation speed
  • Test preparation for SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT
Features
Read full description

Accelerate your algebraic calculation and accuracy as you expand your knowledge with these incredible rarely taught techniques. Learn to think differently about algebraic equations and amaze others with your equation solving prowess. With practice many of these techniques can be performed mentally with lightning fast speed. Easily master once difficult calculations as you watch and learn from the animated steps in every lesson. Practice each technique as you progress through various levels of proficiency and gain achievements along the way. Randomly generated questions ensure an endless ability to practice and have fun. Master these algebraic techniques: * Calculate 10% of Any Number * Calculate 9% of Any Number * Calculate 11% of Any Number * Percentages of Numbers Less Than 100 * Percentages of Numbers From 100-999 * Multiply Two Polynomials * Multiply Two Trinomials * Multiply Large Polynomials * Check Polynomial Multiplication * Basic Algebraic Division * Intermediate Algebraic Division * Verify Algebraic Division * Solve Simultaneous Equations * Special Case Simultaneous Equations * Basic Quadratic Equation * Intermediate Quadratic Equation * Advanced Quadratic Equation * Verify Quadratic Equation Roots Each lesson includes clear step descriptions with animated examples that can be watched as often as you like in order to ensure that you grasp the concept. Prepare for the math section on the SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or any other standardized test. Don't waste time with a calculator on the few tests that allow them. Use Mathemagics as a tutor to quicken up your test taking abilities. Activate and challenge your brain to expand its ability to think efficiently and have fun at the same time. Train yourself to break problems down in to smaller more manageable pieces in order to reach solutions quicker and more accurately than anyone else. ================================= May 2012 Featured in the App Store Test Prep promotion May 2012 Featured as a primary banner in AppStore Education Category April 2012 Featured as an AppStore Education New & Noteworthy app ================================= Follow us on Twitter @blulightnin =================================

About

Reading Skills 4A

Features
Read full description

Do you know how a rainbow is made? Have you ever wondered how a snake sheds it skin? How do turkey vultures help people? What makes a kite fly? Reading Skills 4A is a collection of nonfiction passages with interactive learning activities, written by children's author Marne Ventura, M.A. and developed by Fred Ventura, Ph.D., as part of the Reading Skills Series published by Ventura Educational Systems. Understanding informational text is essential to literacy. To help young readers develop this skill, twelve fun, high-interest passages about snakes, vultures, forces of flight, and more, written at the fourth grade reading level, are presented: * Chasing Rainbows * New Skin for Snakes * Bird Watching Journal Entry * The Water-Saving Plant * Turkey Vultures * The California Poppy * Banana Smoothie * The Four Forces of Flight * Flour Power * A Transparent Invention * Thirsty? * Superhero Soap Each passage is followed by three engaging activities based on the following Common Core Standards for Grade 4 Language Arts: • comprehension • vocabulary • main idea and supporting details • drawing conclusions • making inferences • summarizing • synonyms and antonyms • multiple meanings words • fact vs. opinion • genre • author's purpose • compare and contrast • text features The Reading Skills 4A follow-up activities for each of the 12 passages are described below: Word Fun - a clue is given along with the scrambled letters of a vocabulary word from the passage. The challenge is to unscramble the letters to spell the word. Fact Check - helps improve recall and comprehension. Students read a statement and tap either True or False based on the contents of the passage. Skills Practice - Students practice reading comprehension skills by answering multiple choice questions. A record-keeping component keeps track of the student’s scores on all of the activities.

Screenshots

Mathemagics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Mathemagics at every 5 months against Reading Skills 4A's every 17 months. Mathemagics also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Mathemagics costs $2.99 and Reading Skills 4A $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mathemagics ships an update every 5 months, Reading Skills 4A every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Mathemagics versus Reading Skills 4A: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMathemagicsReading Skills 4A
Price$2.99$2.99
Rating4.7 (79 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings79 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlue Lightning LabsVentura Educational Systems

Bugs and requests

Mathemagics

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes on iPhone 4S after update
  • Lesson steps disappear after updates
  • Lessons fail to load or load incompletely
  • Incorrect answers in practice problems (10% and 1% calculations)
  • Wrong answer choices for basic calculations

Requested features

11 requests
  • Explanations of why tricks work mathematically
  • More advanced equation types and variations
  • Scrap paper or writing area for practice problems
  • Ability to input custom numbers for real-life practice
  • iCloud sync across devices
Show 6 more
  • Font size adjustment capability
  • Additional subjects beyond algebra
  • Apps for calculus and trigonometry
  • Age calculation tricks
  • VoiceOver support for mathematical operations
  • Improved visual design and color contrast

Reading Skills 4A

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Mathemagics

No in-app purchases

None

Reading Skills 4A

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mathemagics free?
Mathemagics costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Skills 4A free?
Reading Skills 4A costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mathemagics or Reading Skills 4A have ads?
Neither Mathemagics nor Reading Skills 4A shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mathemagics or Reading Skills 4A?
Mathemagics ships an update every 5 months, and Reading Skills 4A every 17 months. Most recently, Mathemagics was updated on November 1, 2026 and Reading Skills 4A on October 26, 2026.

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