Scientific Notation Calculator
Convert numbers to and from scientific notation, and perform operations on numbers in scientific notation with our free online calculator.
Category: Calculator
Scientific Notation Calculator
Convert numbers to and from scientific notation, and perform operations with numbers in scientific notation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is scientific notation?
Scientific notation is a way of writing numbers that are too large or too small in a more concise form. It is expressed as a coefficient multiplied by 10 raised to a power (exponent). For example, 5,670,000,000 in scientific notation is 5.67 × 10^9, and 0.0000042 is 4.2 × 10^-6.
How do you convert a number to scientific notation?
To convert a number to scientific notation: 1) Move the decimal point so there is exactly one non-zero digit to the left of it, 2) Count how many places you moved the decimal point, 3) If you moved it to the left, the exponent is positive; if to the right, the exponent is negative. For example, to convert 45,600 to scientific notation, move the decimal point 4 places left to get 4.56 × 10^4.
Why is scientific notation useful?
Scientific notation is useful for representing very large or very small numbers concisely, making calculations with such numbers easier, standardizing the way numbers are displayed in scientific contexts, comparing numbers of vastly different magnitudes, and expressing levels of precision in measurements.