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- Writes numbers as a × 10ⁿ, where a is from 1 to less than 10.
- Converts decimal to scientific notation and back again.
- Also gives E notation (2.5E+8) and engineering notation (powers of 10 in steps of 3).
- Optional rounding to a chosen number of significant figures.
How to use the scientific notation calculator
Choose the direction
Pick decimal to scientific, or scientific to decimal.
Enter your number
Type a normal number such as 299792458 or 0.00056. You can also type E notation like 6.02e23.
Or enter a and n
In scientific to decimal mode, enter the coefficient a and the power of ten n.
Round if needed
Open the optional setting to round to a number of significant figures, then read all the forms of the result.
How scientific notation works
The standard form
number = a × 10ⁿ
1 ≤ |a| < 10, and n is a whole number
Move the decimal point until one non-zero digit is left in front of it. Count the moves: moving left gives a positive n, moving right gives a negative n.
Other notations
E notation: 2.99792458E+8 means 2.99792458 × 10⁸
Engineering notation: n is a multiple of 3, for example 12.345678 × 10³
Engineering notation lines up with metric prefixes such as kilo (10³), mega (10⁶) and micro (10⁻⁶).
Example 1: the speed of light
Convert 299,792,458 m/s to scientific notation.
- Move the decimal 8 places to the left
- Scientific notation 2.99792458 × 10⁸
- E notation 2.99792458E+8
- Rounded to 3 s.f. 3.00 × 10⁸
Rounding to three significant figures gives the familiar 3.00 × 10⁸ m/s.
Example 2: a small number
Convert 0.00056 to scientific notation.
- Move the decimal 4 places to the right
- Scientific notation 5.6 × 10⁻⁴
- Engineering notation 560 × 10⁻⁶
A negative power of ten always means the number is smaller than 1.
Example 3: back to decimal
Convert Avogadro’s number 6.022 × 10²³ to a normal number.
- Move the decimal 23 places to the right
- Decimal form 602,200,000,000,000,000,000,000
Writing that number out shows why scientists prefer the short form.
Where scientific notation helps
Physics and chemistry
Handle constants like the speed of light, Avogadro’s number and the charge of an electron.
Astronomy
Write huge distances and masses without long strings of zeros.
Engineering and electronics
Use engineering notation to match kilo, mega, milli and micro units.
Calculators and code
Understand E notation results from spreadsheets, calculators and programming languages.
To round a normal number before converting it, use the rounding calculator. For roots and powers, try the square root calculator, and for measured values compared with a known constant, the percent error calculator.
Scientific notation calculator FAQ
What is scientific notation?
It is a way to write a number as a × 10ⁿ, where a is at least 1 and less than 10 and n is a whole number. For example 45,000 = 4.5 × 10⁴.
How do I convert a small decimal to scientific notation?
Move the decimal point right until one non-zero digit is in front of it and use the number of moves as a negative power. 0.00056 = 5.6 × 10⁻⁴.
What does E mean on a calculator?
E stands for “times ten to the power of”. 1.6E-19 means 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹.
What is engineering notation?
It is like scientific notation but the power of ten is always a multiple of 3, so the number matches metric prefixes such as kilo and micro.
How many significant figures does a number in scientific notation have?
Count the digits in the coefficient a. 3.00 × 10⁸ has three significant figures.
Can I enter a coefficient bigger than 10?
Yes. If you enter something like 45 × 10³, the calculator converts it to the normalized form 4.5 × 10⁴.