Comparison

Epicycles vs Polynomial Solver Step by Step

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

Head to head
About

Epicycles

Explore the visualization of complex Fourier series through interactive epicycles. Create and analyze approximations of parametric curves and complex functions. Save animations and export custom terms for later use.

Highlights
  • Visualize Fourier series of 2D functions
  • Create epicycles from drawn curves
  • Save custom terms to documents
  • Export animations as GIFs
  • Adjust time and number of terms
  • Interactive graphic elements
Features
Read full description

The Epicycles app is a tool for exploring the visualization of complex Fourier series. It allows users to interactively create and visualize epicycles based on sampled parametric curves or predefined Fourier series terms. The app provides a visual representation of the complex Fourier series and demonstrates the approximation of complex-valued functions using epicycles. It can be used to study the properties of Fourier series, understand the concept of epicycles, and explore the visualization of complex functions in a fun and interactive way. • Visualizes Fourier series of 2D functions parameterized by time that are built-in, your own drawn 2D curves, or custom frequency components using the terms editor. • Custom terms can saved by exporting them to 'epi' documents in Files, and then later restored by importing them. • Cyclic animations can be saved to GIFs or snapshots saved to PNGs in the Photos library, with sizes 480x480, 720x720 or 1080x1080. • The main view consists of several functional items: Graphic Menu, Time Slider (t), Number of Fourier series terms slider (N), Current Function Menu. Graphic Menu: In the main view use the menubar in the graphic view to select options to hide or show the following graphic elements of the Fourier series visualization: • Circle: The blue circles that are the paths traced by the epicycles. These illustrate Euler’s formula for the complex valued terms of the Fourier series, expressing each complex exponential term as a pair (r cos(n t), r sin(n t)) that trace a circle of radius r, n times as time t varies in the period of length 2π. • Eye: The green circle that represents the value of the Fourier series at the current time. • Lightning: The red line segment path that consists of the joined radii of the epicycles circles, from the origin to the value of the Fourier series at the current time. • Pencil: The orange path that traces the current 2D function. • Star: The black path that traces the Fourier series 2D approximation of the current 2D function. Additionally in the menubar: • Magnify: Hide some views to make room for the expanded display the graphic. • Share: Save the graphic as an animated GIF or snapshot PNG in Photos library. • Play: Animate the graphic by periodically advancing the current time. • Info: Display internet resources conveniently in the app about Fourier series, epicycles and Euler’s formula. Time Slider (t): Adjust the time slider to see the state of all the graphic elements at any time within the time period [-π,π] on which the current 2D function is defined. Number of Fourier series terms slider (N): Adjust the number of terms included in the Fourier series approximation to the current 2D function. Frequency components in a partial Fourier series range from -N to N. The maximum value is limited to 100. As a guide tap the wand icon to set the number of terms to a value whose corresponding highest frequency can theoretically be reproduced with the given number of samples, based on the concept of Nyquist frequency with uniform sampling. For the built-in sample functions that sample count is fixed. The number of samples of your own drawn curve is variable, and displayed in the drawing view. The custom Fourier series using the term editor has known frequency components, limited to the range -20 to 20. The number of samples generated is sufficient for any selection in that range. Therefore in this case the wand sets N to the highest absolute frequency value of the terms. Current Function Menu: Use the segmented control to select from a variety of built-in 2D parametric curves or select the `?` item. Then you can either draw a 2D curve in the Draw tab view, or edit custom Fourier series terms in the Term tab view. In the latter case the app will numerically generate the Fourier series of a Fourier series, by sampling the summation of the series terms.

About

Polynomial Solver Step by Step

This app serves as a calculator and educational tool for students learning algebra. It offers step-by-step explanations for polynomial operations, root finding, and advanced iterative solving methods, complemented by interactive graphs.

Highlights
  • Polynomial multiplication and division
  • Rational root finding algorithm
  • Iterative solving methods (Durand-Kerner, Aberth, Newton, etc.)
  • Interactive polynomial and derivative graphs
  • Complex plane visualizations of algorithms
  • Links to online references
Features
Read full description

Polynomial Solver Step by Step is a calculator, and, more importantly, a teaching tool. It is designed to help students of both basic and advanced levels. Basic Algebra functions: 1. Polynomial multiplication. 2. Polynomial long division with step by step explanation. 3. Algorithm for finding rational roots consisting of the following: a. Finding all possible rational roots. b. Eliminating the roots outside bounds. c. Performing polynomial long division for each of the roots. d. Adjusting bounds based on long division results if appropriate. Iterative polynomial solving algorithms for advanced-level students: 1. Durand-Kerner method. 2. Aberth method. 3. Newton method with both real and complex starting points. 4. Global (also known as "damped") Newton method with both real and complex starting points. 5. Laguerre method with both real and complex starting points. 6. Bairstow method. 7. Muller method. 8. Eigenvalues of ‘companion matrix’ (demonstration of QR algorithm for eigenvalue calculation is available in our “Matrix Solver Step by Step" app). Interactive graphs are available for: 1. Polynomial functions and their derivatives. 2. Aberth and Durand-Kerner method points on complex plane. 3. Newton, global Newton, Laguerre, and Muller algorithm steps. 4. Newton and global Newton method fractals / convergence images on complex plane 5. Laguerre method convergence images on complex plane 6 Bairstow method convergence images depending on initial approximation values. 7 Muller method convergence images depending on initial approximation values. (Images 4-7 have adjustable settings for area, resolution and shading). Links to online references are included. Please write to us if you like to have new features / chapters added! Developers welcome any feedback, please write to us at graphmath@aol.com.

Screenshots

Epicycles4 screens
Polynomial Solver Step by Step4 screens

Verdict

The call

Epicycles and Polynomial Solver Step by Step are too close to call on the numbers: across 9 compared parameters — price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Epicycles against 5.0 for Polynomial Solver Step by Step. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Epicycles ships an update every 5 days, Polynomial Solver Step by Step every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Epicycles versus Polynomial Solver Step by Step: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEpicyclesPolynomial Solver Step by Step
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLimit Point SoftwareYuri Morozov

Customer experience

Epicycles

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Polynomial Solver Step by Step

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Epicycles

No in-app purchases

None

Polynomial Solver Step by Step

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Epicycles free?
Epicycles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Polynomial Solver Step by Step free?
Polynomial Solver Step by Step is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Epicycles or Polynomial Solver Step by Step?
Epicycles and Polynomial Solver Step by Step are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Epicycles or Polynomial Solver Step by Step have ads?
Neither Epicycles nor Polynomial Solver Step by Step shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Epicycles or Polynomial Solver Step by Step?
Epicycles ships an update every 5 days, and Polynomial Solver Step by Step every 4 days. Most recently, Epicycles was updated on June 5, 2026 and Polynomial Solver Step by Step on September 1, 2026.

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