Is there a string math evaluator in .NET?

You could add a reference to Microsoft Script Control Library (COM) and use code like this to evaluate an expression. (Also works for JScript.)

Dim sc As New MSScriptControl.ScriptControl()
sc.Language = "VBScript"
Dim expression As String = "1 + 2 * 7"
Dim result As Double = sc.Eval(expression)

Edit - C# version.

MSScriptControl.ScriptControl sc = new MSScriptControl.ScriptControl();
sc.Language = "VBScript";
string expression = "1 + 2 * 7";
object result = sc.Eval(expression);            
MessageBox.Show(result.ToString());

Edit - The ScriptControl is a COM object. In the "Add reference" dialog of the project select the "COM" tab and scroll down to "Microsoft Script Control 1.0" and select ok.

Strange that this famous and old question has not an answer that suggests the builtin DataTable.Compute-"trick". Here it is.

double result = Convert.ToDouble(new DataTable().Compute("1 + 2 * 7", null));

The following arithmetic operators are supported in expressions:

+ (addition)
- (subtraction)
* (multiplication)
/ (division)
% (modulus)

More informations: DataColumn.Expression at Expression Syntax.

For anybody developing in C# on Silverlight here's a pretty neat trick that I've just discovered that allows evaluation of an expression by calling out to the Javascript engine:

double result = (double) HtmlPage.Window.Eval("15 + 35");