Scientific Notation Calculator
Enter a number in decimal or scientific notation (e.g. 1.23e4) to convert it. You can also add, subtract, multiply or divide two numbers in scientific notation.
Scientific Notation Calculator
Convert and calculate in scientific notation
Scientific notation writes a number as m × 10ⁿ where 1 ≤ |m| < 10 and n is an integer. Conversion moves the decimal point and adjusts the exponent accordingly.
Scientific Notation Basics
Scientific notation writes a number as:
m × 10ⁿ
where 1 ≤ |m| < 10 (the coefficient) and n is an integer (the exponent).
**To convert from decimal**: Move the decimal point until you have a number between 1 and 10. Count the places moved — that's the exponent. Moving left gives a positive exponent; moving right gives a negative exponent.
**Examples**: - 45,000 = 4.5 × 10⁴ - 0.00045 = 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ - 123.45 = 1.2345 × 10²
- Format: m × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ |m| < 10
- Move decimal left → positive exponent
- Move decimal right → negative exponent
- E notation: 4.5e4 means 4.5 × 10⁴
Worked Example
Example: Convert 0.00045 to scientific notation.
- Move decimal point 4 places right to get 4.5 (between 1 and 10) - Moved right → negative exponent: −4 - Result: 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ = 4.5e-4
Example: Convert 3.2 × 10⁵ to decimal. - Move decimal 5 places right: 320,000
Related Calculators
RREF Calculator
Find the Reduced Row Echelon Form of a matrix with step-by-step row operations.
Open calculator →Discriminant Calculator
Find b² − 4ac and what it tells you about a quadratic's roots.
Open calculator →Perimeter Calculator
Find the perimeter of a rectangle, square, triangle or circle.
Open calculator →Simplify Radical Calculator
Reduce a square root to its simplest radical form, step by step.
Open calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'e' mean?
In e notation, 'e' stands for '× 10^'. So 4.5e-4 = 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ = 0.00045, and 1.23e6 = 1.23 × 10⁶ = 1,230,000.
When is scientific notation useful?
For very large or very small numbers — astronomy, physics, chemistry — where writing all the zeros is impractical and error-prone.
Looking for a different calculator?
CalculatorPlus has free tools across finance, construction, math, health and more — each one showing the formula and a worked example.