Just found out about this. MSN Search, thru MSN Encarta, can actually solve algebraic equations.
So I tried a few formulas like: 0 = x^ 2 + 2 x + 1
… and true enough, it gave me ‘1″ as the correct answer. Again, I tried a harder equation such as: x^3 - x + pi^2 - x^2 = 1
I got -1.92182 on that one. Had this been available way back in my high school days, I could have gotten a perfect 1.0 grade instead of 1.25. 
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Back in high school, if you got 1.25 for those kind of subjects you are like \m/(^_^)\m/
Instead of “Teacher: Please keep your calculators!”.
“Teacher: kindly keep your Handhelds, esp those who are browsing MSN!”.
Sir Jamora, who was also my PMO coach, wouldn’t give me the 1.0 though. Damn missed assignments.
Sounds like MSN’s using a Solver. Similar to mapquest.com, except there’s gives you the shortest distance to a location you want to reach.
Once MSN determines that it’s an equation, they plug it in to a modified linear programming solver that can solve quadratic equations.
Basically loops through possible values of x using the simplex method given the condition =0
I know there’s an open source solver available from GNU, glpk I think is the name of the program.
So you joined PMO, I was only able to join Damaths up til the regionals, and Sir Jamora was also with us.
marc: I tried some more complex equations using nested brackets and the system failed to solve it. Looks like your theory might be true.
fleeb: Yup, I did. Was disqualified for DaMath because of conflict of contest schedules. We were the very first batch who road-tested the new game which was invented by Sir Jamora and a colleague.
Darrrrr… I remember, I joined PMO as well back in first year, getting the top place in the divisions (since there was no regional event for that year level), I was not really expecting it because I am not the best in math in our batch. That is when they told me to try Damaths. And oh, we only knew about Sir Jamora inventing damath after graduation. He never said anything about it, humble him.
wow if i knew that too i should have caught the attention of that math wiz in my class who seemed to have known all the answers… which more than half the class is going nuts solving. tssk!!!!