title: Getting started category: Basics description: How to sign up and solve your first problem in under two minutes. order: 1

Getting started

Welcome to Ostrol. This guide takes you from zero to your first verified solution in about two minutes.

1. Create an account

Go to ostrol.com and click Sign up. You can use email + password or a Google account. Verify your email through the link we send, then you're in.

If you're joining a school or a class, your teacher will share a join link instead — open that link first and the right organization is wired up for you automatically.

2. Pick an engine level

Every solve uses one of four engine levels. You can change the default any time in Settings → Solver.

• Fast — heuristic-only. Best for routine algebra, arithmetic, and unit conversions.
• Standard — heuristic + symbolic check. The everyday default.
• Rigorous — full symbolic verification with step-by-step justification.
• Research — multi-strategy planner. Slower but handles the hardest problems.

Higher levels cost more credits but verify more thoroughly. The badge on each solution tells you whether the engine actually verified the answer — see Reading the verification badge.

3. Solve a problem

You have three ways to send a problem to the solver:

• Type it. Use the editor on the home page. LaTeX, plain math, and natural language all work.
• Photograph it. Tap the camera icon. We recommend skimming Photographing a problem first — good photos cut OCR errors dramatically.
• Paste it. A screenshot, an image URL, or even a PDF page works.

Hit Solve. The solution streams in step by step. Most problems finish in under five seconds.

4. Save, share, or export

Once a solution is on screen you can:

• Save any equation to your formula sheet (details)
• Share the solution via a link (details)
• Export to PDF, PNG, or LaTeX (details)

That's it — you've shipped your first solve. The rest of this Help center digs into specific features.

Couldn't find what you need? Email us.