Scientific Notation Calculator
Convert to and from scientific notation.
What is a scientific notation calculator?
A scientific notation calculator writes a number in the form mantissa × 10 to a power. It is used for very large and very small numbers in science.
How to use the scientific notation calculator
Enter a number and click Convert. The calculator shows the number in scientific notation with an explanation.
Scientific notation formula
Number = mantissa × 10^exponent, where the mantissa is between 1 and 10. Move the decimal point until one non-zero digit is left of it; the number of places moved is the exponent.
Example
12345 = 1.2345 × 10^4. The decimal point moved 4 places to the left, so the exponent is 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 12345 in scientific notation?
12345 in scientific notation is 1.2345 × 10^4. Try it on the calculator above.
How do you write a small number in scientific notation?
Move the decimal point to the right until one non-zero digit is left of it. The exponent is negative and equals the number of places moved.
Why use scientific notation?
Scientific notation makes very large or very small numbers easier to read, write and compare. For example, the speed of light is 3 × 10^8 metres per second.
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