Scientific Notation Calculator
Convert numbers to and from scientific, E and engineering notation, round to significant figures, and add, subtract, multiply or divide with steps.
Reviewed by Dany, RightSums team · Updated
Runs in your browser. Free, no sign-up.
maths · Daily life · UK & US
Type an ordinary number, E notation such as 4.5E4, or scientific notation such as 4.5 × 10^4, and the calculator shows it in scientific notation, E notation, engineering notation with its SI prefix, and as an ordinary decimal. It counts the significant figures you typed and can round to any number you choose. In UK schools scientific notation is called standard form, while in the US standard form means the ordinary decimal. Switch to arithmetic mode to add, subtract, multiply or divide two numbers in scientific notation, with the working and the answer under the usual significant-figure rules. The arithmetic is exact, so answers do not pick up floating-point errors, and powers of ten from −1,000 to 1,000 are accepted.
Accepted inputs
- Ordinary numbers such as 0.00012
- E notation such as 4.5E4
- Scientific notation such as 4.5 × 10^4
- Optional number of significant figures
- Operation for arithmetic
Outputs
- Scientific notation (UK standard form)
- E notation
- Engineering notation and SI prefix
- Ordinary decimal
- Significant figure count
- Arithmetic answer with working
How to use the Scientific Notation Calculator
- Type a number as an ordinary decimal, in E notation or as a number times a power of ten.
- The calculator moves the decimal point until one non-zero digit sits in front of it and counts the places moved to get the power of ten.
- Engineering notation uses the nearest lower power that is a multiple of 3, which matches SI prefixes such as kilo, mega and micro.
- In arithmetic mode it multiplies or divides the numbers and adds or subtracts the powers, or lines up the powers before adding, then tidies the answer back into scientific notation.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 45,000 in scientific notation?
45,000 is 4.5 × 10⁴. Move the decimal point 4 places to the left so one non-zero digit sits in front of it, giving 4.5, and the 4 places become the power of ten. In E notation it is 4.5E4, and in engineering notation it is 45 × 10³.
How do you write 0.00012 in scientific notation?
0.00012 is 1.2 × 10⁻⁴. Move the decimal point 4 places to the right to get 1.2; moving right makes the power negative. In E notation that is 1.2E-4, and in engineering notation 120 × 10⁻⁶, which is 120 micro.
How do you multiply numbers in scientific notation?
Multiply the numbers in front and add the powers, then tidy up. For (4 × 10³) × (5 × 10⁶): 4 × 5 = 20 and 3 + 6 = 9, giving 20 × 10⁹. Move the point one place to get 2 × 10¹⁰. To divide, divide the numbers and subtract the powers.
How do you add numbers in scientific notation?
Rewrite them with the same power of ten, add the numbers in front, then tidy up. For 3.2 × 10⁵ + 4.1 × 10⁴, write 4.1 × 10⁴ as 0.41 × 10⁵. Then 3.2 + 0.41 = 3.61, so the answer is 3.61 × 10⁵.
What is engineering notation?
Engineering notation is like scientific notation, but the power of ten is always a multiple of 3 and the number in front is between 1 and 999. That lines up with SI prefixes. The speed of light, 299,792,458 m/s, is 3.00 × 10⁸ to 3 significant figures, or 300 × 10⁶ in engineering notation.
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