Hands vs Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hands
This app introduces algebra concepts for students who have completed Level 1. It teaches how to solve equations involving a white pawn representing an unknown value and its opposite. Engaging video lessons and interactive exercises enhance understanding and build confidence in solving algebraic problems.
- Solve equations with unknown values
- Learn about opposite values
- Interactive video introductions
- Practice with examples and exercises
- Visual representation of algebraic concepts
- Build confidence in algebra
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Hands-On Equations® Level 2 Continue the Fun Way to Learn Algebra! You've mastered the fundamentals. Now it's time for the next exciting step in your algebra journey! Hands-On Equations® Level 2 introduces an innovative new game piece—the white pawn, which represents the opposite of x. Using the white pawn together with the familiar blue pawn and numbered cubes, students learn elegant new strategies for solving increasingly sophisticated equations. Watch students confidently solve equations such as: 3x = –x + 4 and x – 3(–x) + 2 = 8 – 2x while enjoying the same highly visual, intuitive approach that has helped more than one million students better understand algebra. Discover More Advanced Algebra Naturally As students solve increasingly challenging equations, they intuitively apply important mathematical ideas, including: • Additive inverses • The additive property of zero • The addition property of equality As they solve these Level 2 equations, students discover how to add positive and negative numbers—without formal instruction. Rather than memorizing procedures, students develop a genuine understanding of why algebra works. Who Should Use Level 2? Hands-On Equations Level 2 is the natural continuation for students who have completed Level 1, including: • Gifted students in Grades 2 and above • Elementary students in Grades 4 and above • Middle school students • High school students who would benefit from a clearer, more visual approach to algebra • Adults who wish they had learned algebra this way the first time Experience Success. Build Confidence. As students experience continued success solving increasingly challenging equations, they develop greater confidence, deeper understanding, and an appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of algebra. If you enjoyed Hands-On Equations Level 1, you'll love discovering what you can accomplish in Level 2. For more information about Hands-On Equations, visit www.borenson.com. For app support, contact: info@borenson.com.
Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun
This educational game makes practicing math word problems engaging for students in grades 2-8. Players explore a Mediterranean island, solving math challenges to uncover treasures and earn virtual currency, with an onscreen calculator to aid understanding.
- Interactive word problem practice
- Game-based learning
- Covers elementary and middle school math topics
- Multiplayer mode for up to four players
- Customizable game length and winning conditions
- Onscreen calculator for assistance
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"Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun is an outstanding way to encourage students to practice word problems." See the rest of the review at: https://web.archive.org/web/20240605212456/https://bestappsforkids.com/math-galaxy-word-problems-fun/ Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun provides, in a game setting that's like a cross between monopoly and maze searches, a range of problems covering the core of elementary and middle school math: whole number operations fractions decimals multi-step problems ratios & proportions percents negative numbers time length area volume weight angles graphs & tables You and your fellow archaeologists have landed on Prospero's Island in the Mediterranean looking for lost treasure in underground caves and labyrinths. You each start with $25,000. If you collect all the treasures in a cave you get to own it, and can then charge any other player who lands on it a fee of $1000 for each cave that you own (for example, if you own 3 caves, they pay your $3,000). To enter a cave you must provide a secret code to open the cave door, which is the answer to a math problem. An onscreen calculator is provided, since the purpose is to understand the structure of word problems and not get mired in calculations. Because of the danger you are using ground-penetrating radar to guide a remote-controlled robot to dig through the caves. You must get to the treasures and out of the caves before the robot is destroyed by one of the many dangers: falling boulders, ice caverns, underground rivers and tubes left by some ancient civilization. Up to four players can play and the game continues as long as you want - you can set your own criteria for winning, e.g., when a player reaches a certain score - and you can save games. Regarding the complexity of the game, it’s basically like Monopoly. You earn spots on the game board (an island) by solving a maze at each spot and then players who land on your spots pay you. No explicit instructions on how to get to the treasures in a maze and get out are given - figuring out the mazes is part of the challenge.
Screenshots
Verdict
Hands and Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of Hands's written reviews are positive against 60% of Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun's. Hands also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (77 vs 3). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Hands costs $7.99 and Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Hands against 4.7 for Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hands has 77 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Hands's written reviews are positive against 60% of Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun's.
Hands ships an update every 5 months, Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hands | Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (77 ratings) | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 86.8% of reviews — better | 60.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 77 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 17 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 231 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hands On Equations | Math Galaxy |
Customer experience
Hands
Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun
Bugs and requests
Hands
Reported bugs
9 issues- Bug in number wheel slows completion streaks
- Tutorials have too much jargon
- Lesson 12 equations too hard
- Lesson 8 tutorials have too much jargon
- Lesson 9 glitch, won't accept correct answer
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- App not working for iOS 9, crashes when clicking 'value'
- Paid version has advertising
- Paid version doesn't work, crashes when entering value of x
- Volume does not work on the app, videos of little value
Requested features
4 requests- Make lessons harder
- Add more challenges
- Add video explanation after each problem
- More advanced concepts
Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hands
No in-app purchases
Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hands free?
Is Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun free?
Which has better reviews, Hands or Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun?
Do Hands or Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hands or Math Galaxy Word Problems Fun?
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