Frequently Asked Questions

Short answers about LiveMath 4.5, licensing and the store. The full legal texts are the License Agreement and the Privacy Policy.

What is LiveMath?

A live computer algebra and graphing system. A LiveMath notebook looks like mathematics on paper: you write propositions, manipulate them by dragging, graph them, and everything stays connected — change a value and every dependent result, graph and animation updates. It began as Theorist in 1984, became MathView, and is LiveMath today.

Is LiveMath free?

Free to download and read on every platform. Viewer Mode opens any notebook: every plot draws, every animation runs. Creating and saving notebooks, exporting to PDF or SVG, and all computation need LiveMath Pro — a license key from the LiveMath store for Mac, Windows and Linux, or a yearly subscription inside the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Which platforms does it run on?

macOS 11 or later (Intel and Apple Silicon), Windows 10 or later (Intel and ARM), Linux Ubuntu (Intel and ARM), iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets, and ChromeOS. The .the notebook format is identical everywhere, so a notebook saved on one device opens on all the others. See the download page.

How does a license key work?

Buy a license in the store and the key arrives by email within a minute. Enter it when the app asks. The key activates LiveMath Pro on the number of computers you chose — one, two or three for students and individuals — for a one-year term, including every update released during that term. Keep the email: you will need the key again if you move to a new computer.

Do I need a key on iPhone, iPad, Android or a Chromebook?

No. On those devices LiveMath Pro is a subscription billed by the App Store or Google Play and managed in your Apple or Google account, not on this site. The App Store listing is universal: one download covers iPhone, iPad and macOS. A key bought here covers the Mac, Windows and Linux apps.

I am a Distance Calculus student. How do I get my license?

Your course page or welcome email links to the store with a course code. Open that link: the student license for two computers, one year, is preselected at the course price, and where the course includes an e-textbook the checkout line says so. If the code is refused, email info@livemath.com with your course number.

Can I get a refund?

License keys are digital goods and fees are non-refundable, except where the law or the app store you bought through requires it. Please try Viewer Mode first: it runs on the same computer with the same notebooks, so you can confirm LiveMath works for you before buying. The full terms are in the License Agreement.

Will my older notebooks open?

Yes. Notebooks made with earlier LiveMath versions open in 4.5, and a 4.5 notebook opens on every platform. The Reference Manual explains the format and the app’s menus in full.

Where do I learn LiveMath?

Start with Getting Started, an eleven-module video course with practice notebooks and quizzes. LiveMath TV is the screencast library. The documentation library holds the manuals as PDFs, also reachable from the app’s Help menu. The Starter Library gives you ready-made notebooks across the curriculum.

Is there a license for a school, lab or department?

Yes. The store sells Commercial / Academic licenses for three, five or ten seats, all under one key. For a larger deployment, or a purchase order, email info@livemath.com.

Which languages does LiveMath speak?

Fifteen: English, British English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Irish, Danish and Bulgarian — every menu, dialog and message. Notebooks themselves are language-neutral: a notebook written in one language reads correctly in every other.

How do I get help?

Use the chat bubble in the corner of any page during working hours, or email info@livemath.com. We answer questions about the software; for general mathematics questions, Khan Academy and YouTube are the better places. See the support page.

What about privacy and payments?

Payments are processed by PayPal; we never see, receive or store card or bank details. What the software and the store collect, and why, is set out in the Privacy Policy. The license terms are in the License Agreement.