Scientific Notation
Convert to/from sci notation
About This Calculator
Scientific notation expresses very large or very small numbers as a coefficient (1 ≤ |a| < 10) multiplied by a power of ten. It is the standard format in science and engineering for avoiding unwieldy strings of zeros and communicating measurement precision clearly.
Formula
Standard form: a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10 and n is an integer
To convert: move the decimal until one non-zero digit remains left of it; count moves as the exponent
Multiply: (a×10ⁿ) × (b×10ᵐ) = (a×b) × 10^(n+m)
Divide: (a×10ⁿ) / (b×10ᵐ) = (a/b) × 10^(n−m)
Example Calculation
Convert 0.000047 and 93,000,000 to scientific notation.
- 0.000047: move decimal 5 places right → 4.7 × 10⁻⁵
- 93,000,000: move decimal 7 places left → 9.3 × 10⁷
0.000047 = 4.7×10⁻⁵; 93,000,000 = 9.3×10⁷
Scientific Notation Reference
| Standard | Scientific Notation | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 0.000000001 | 1×10⁻⁹ | 1 nanometer |
| 0.001 | 1×10⁻³ | 1 millimeter |
| 1 | 1×10⁰ | — |
| 1,000 | 1×10³ | 1 kilometer |
| 1,000,000 | 1×10⁶ | 1 megabyte |
| 1,000,000,000 | 1×10⁹ | 1 gigabyte |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add numbers in scientific notation?
Convert to the same exponent first, then add the coefficients. For example, 3×10⁴ + 2×10³ = 30×10³ + 2×10³ = 32×10³ = 3.2×10⁴.
What does a negative exponent mean?
A negative exponent means the number is less than 1. 10⁻³ = 0.001 (one thousandth). So 4.7×10⁻⁵ = 0.000047. The exponent tells you how many places to move the decimal point left.
How many significant figures does scientific notation show?
All digits in the coefficient are significant. 3.00×10⁵ has 3 significant figures; 3×10⁵ has 1. This makes scientific notation ideal for expressing precision unambiguously.
What is E notation in calculators?
E notation is a text-based substitute for scientific notation: 4.7E−5 means 4.7×10⁻⁵. It is used in programming languages (Python, JavaScript, C) and calculator displays where superscripts are not available.