- Study mode: the setting that makes ChatGPT a maths tutor
- Prompts to learn a topic
- Prompts for homework help without the answers
- Prompts for practice and exams
- Prompts for parents helping with homework
- Prompts for everyday maths
- How to get better maths help from ChatGPT
- My advice on ChatGPT prompts for math
- Frequently asked questions
The best ChatGPT prompts for math ask it to guide you step by step rather than hand over the answer, say your level and where you're stuck, and ask it to check the calculation. Turn on study mode for this: OpenAI says it can guide you with questions instead of giving the answer right away, and you can upload a photo of the problem.
I wasn't a natural at maths at school, and I'd have given a lot for a tutor who never got tired of explaining the same thing. That's what ChatGPT can be, if you ask it the right way. Ask it for the answer and you'll learn nothing; ask it to walk you through, one step at a time, and wait for you, and it becomes a patient tutor. These prompts are written that way, for students, parents helping with homework and adults brushing up.
Study mode: the setting that makes ChatGPT a maths tutor
OpenAI's help page on study mode explains the features that matter most for maths:
| What OpenAI says | Why it helps with maths |
|---|---|
| Study mode can guide you with questions instead of giving the answer straight away | You do the thinking, so you can do it again in the exam |
| It can explain ideas step by step and check your understanding | Ask it to stop after each step and wait for your reply |
| You can upload a photo of a math or science problem; if it misses something, upload a clearer version or paste the text | No need to type out long equations |
| On the web, type @study or choose Study from the + menu; it isn't available in Temporary Chats, GPTs or Projects | Use a normal chat for maths practice |
| Study mode can make mistakes, so double-check important information | Check final answers, especially for homework and exams |
One more detail worth knowing: OpenAI lists its data analysis tool, which runs Python, as a way to get accurate calculations. If an answer involves a lot of arithmetic, ask ChatGPT to calculate it with code and show the working.
Prompts to learn a topic
For the first time you meet something new.
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I'm in [year or level] and learning [topic]. Explain it from the beginning with one simple example, then give me a similar problem to try myself.
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Explain why [rule or formula] works, not just how to use it, using a picture or real-life example.
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I understand [earlier topic] but not [new topic]. Show me how the new idea builds on the one I know.
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Give me three different ways to think about [concept], and ask me which one makes most sense to me.
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What are the most common mistakes students make with [topic], and how can I avoid each one?
Prompts for homework help without the answers
Learn the method, keep the marks honest.
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Don't give me the answer. Here's the problem: [problem]. Ask me what I'd try first, then guide me one step at a time.
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I got this wrong and I don't know why: [problem and my working]. Find the step where I went wrong and explain it.
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Give me a hint for this problem, but only a small one. If I'm still stuck, give me the next hint: [problem].
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I've uploaded a photo of my worksheet. Help me with question [number] by asking me questions, not by solving it.
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Check my answers to these problems and tell me which are wrong, without telling me the right answers yet: [paste].
Prompts for practice and exams
Practice is what makes it stick.
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Give me five practice problems on [topic] that get harder each time. Wait for my answer to each before giving the next.
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Make a short timed quiz on [topics] for my exam, then mark it and tell me what to revise.
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Create a revision plan for my maths exam on [date] covering [topics], with practice every day.
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Give me one exam-style question on [topic] and a mark scheme, so I can see how marks are awarded.
Prompts for parents helping with homework
When the methods have changed since you were at school.
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My child is in [year] and learning [topic] using [method name]. Explain the method to me so I can help without confusing them.
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Suggest ways to explain [topic] to a [age]-year-old using everyday objects.
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Give me three gentle questions I can ask to help my child work out [problem] for themselves.
Prompts for everyday maths
For adults brushing up.
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Explain percentages from scratch with everyday examples, then give me five practice questions.
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Help me understand how to read a graph or chart in a news article, with an example to practise on.
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Walk me through working out [everyday calculation] step by step, and show me a quick way to check it.
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Teach me a few mental maths shortcuts for everyday sums, then test me with five quick questions.
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Explain averages, medians and ranges with a simple example, and tell me when each one is the better choice.
How to get better maths help from ChatGPT
- Turn on study mode, or tell ChatGPT not to give you the answer.
- Say your level and exactly where you're stuck.
- Ask it to stop after each step and wait for your reply.
- For heavy arithmetic, ask it to calculate with code and show the working.
- Check final answers, and follow your school's rules on AI for homework.
If you want ChatGPT to remember your level and how you like things explained, custom instructions save you repeating it every time. My AI prompt examples show how small changes to a prompt get much better explanations.
My advice on ChatGPT prompts for math
Use ChatGPT as a tutor, not an answer machine. Study mode and a simple 'don't give me the answer' change it completely: it asks questions, waits and explains the step you missed. Upload the problem, say where you're stuck, and check the final answer, because OpenAI is clear it can make mistakes. Do that, and you'll understand the method well enough to do it without the AI next time.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT good at math?
It's a good tutor for explaining methods step by step, but it can make mistakes. Ask it to show the working and check final answers.
How do I stop ChatGPT giving me the answer?
Turn on study mode, which OpenAI says can guide you with questions instead of giving the answer right away, or say 'don't give me the answer' in your prompt.
Can ChatGPT solve a math problem from a photo?
Yes. OpenAI says you can upload a photo of a math problem in study mode, and upload a clearer version or paste the text if it misses something.
How do I turn on ChatGPT study mode?
On the web, type @study or choose Study from the + menu. OpenAI says it isn't available in Temporary Chats, GPTs or Projects.
Can I use ChatGPT for maths homework?
It depends on your school's rules. Use it to learn the method and check your understanding, not to copy answers.
