Perform Quick Calculations
Spotlight can also be used for doing quick calculations, which is really handy when you consider how accessible it is.
Bring up Spotlight on either macOS or iOS and type in a calculation such as “2+2” to see the result. Much more complicated calculations are supported as well, including multiple operators and proper bracketed notation, so you can enter something like “(3+2)*6 and you’ll get the correct result. It can also do things like square roots using notation such as “sqrt(25)” and exponential operations using the carat symbol (e.g. “3^4”).
On macOS, if you press CMD+C, the result of the calculation will also be copied to your clipboard, ready to be pasted into whatever you’re working on. Alternatively, if you press the return key, the Calculator app will open with the result of the calculation. Sadly, there’s no equivalent to this behaviour on iOS.