REDMOND, Wash., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to an independent survey commissioned by Microsoft Corp., 77 percent of teachers and 73 percent of parents claim math and science are the most difficult homework subjects for students, yet only 36 percent of parents feel capable to help their children. While parents and teachers struggle to find the time or knowledge to provide their kids with adequate assistance in math and science, students can grow frustrated by the lack of resources and the amount time it may take to find relevant guidance in these difficult subjects. To address these issues, Microsoft has developed a low-cost, comprehensive resource for middle school, high school and entry-level college students.

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Today Microsoft releases Microsoft(R) Math 3.0, a new software solution designed to help students complete their math and science homework more quickly and easily while teaching important fundamental concepts. Microsoft Math 3.0 features an extensive collection of capabilities to help students tackle complicated problems in pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, physics and chemistry, and puts them all in one convenient place on the home PC. Similar to a hired tutor, Microsoft Math 3.0 is designed to help deepen students' overall understanding of these subjects by invoking a full-featured graphing calculator and step-by-step instructions on how to solve difficult problems.

"Students often become annoyed when they can't finish their math homework quickly and waste time searching for help," said Dave Brooks, Education Products Group product manager at Microsoft. "Microsoft Math helps reduce that frustration by providing a one-stop shop for help with math and science."

"When solving a quadratic equation, Microsoft Math doesn't just churn and spit out one of the solutions," said Jonathan Briggs, a high school math teacher at East Side Preparatory School in Kirkland, Wash. "Instead, it shows you both solutions and how to obtain them using square completion or the quadratic equation."

Microsoft Math can also be leveraged by instructors as an exciting visual component to their curriculum, helping keep students more engaged and interactive throughout the lesson.

"Microsoft Math provides a space for nurturing student learning in mathematics with dynamic visualizations. The program provides essential ingredients for classroom environments designed to challenge all students to engage in visual thinking," said Margaret L. Neiss, professor for mathematics education at Oregon State University.

Microsoft Math offers a variety of tools that address a wide range of tasks in math and science:

o A full-featured Graphing Calculator with extensive graphing and equation-solving capabilities expands students' understanding of complex mathematics.

o Using step-by-step math solutions, students are guided through problems in subjects ranging from pre-algebra to calculus, helping them solve equations more efficiently.

o The Formulas and Equations Library contains more than 100 common math equations and formulas that enable students to identify and easily apply the right equation to solve math and science problems.

o The Triangle Solver explores triangles and teaches students the relationship between different components used to calculate sides, angles and values and solve formulas.

o The Unit Conversion Tool allows students to quickly and easily convert units of measure, including length, area, volume, weight, temperature, pressure, energy, power, velocity and time. The new Ink Handwriting Support works with Tablet and Ultra-Mobile PCs, allowing students to write out a problem by hand and acquire assistance from Microsoft Math.

Microsoft Math is scheduled to be available for download in early May 2007 for an estimated retail price of $19.95* (U.S.). Microsoft Math is also available in a variety of Microsoft Academic Volume Licensing programs for educational institutions. Full information about special pricing and licensing for educational institutions, educators and students is available at http://www.microsoft.com/education/howtobuy.mspx.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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CONTACT: Darrin Swaim, +1-503-471-6863, or darrin.swaim@edelman.com, or
Meredith Williams, +1-503-471-6802, or meredith.williams@edelman.com, both of
Edelman, for Microsoft

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/