Convert numbers between standard, scientific, engineering and E-notation. Parses any input format, rounds to significant figures and does arithmetic on two values.
Enter a valid numberAccepts: 314000, 0.000314, 3.14e5, 3.14E-5, 3.14 × 10^5, 3.14*10^-5
6
Scientific notation
2.99792 × 108
Standard299,792,458
Scientific2.99792 × 108
Engineering299.792 × 106
E-notation2.99792e+8
Order of magnitude: 8Sig figs: 6
Enter a valid number
Enter a valid number
6
Result
8.31 × 100
Expression6.022 × 10²³ × 1.38 × 10⁻²³
Scientific8.31036 × 100
Engineering8.31036 × 100
Standard8.31036
E-notation8.31036e+0
Physics constants — click to load
Notation rules
ScientificOne non-zero digit before the decimal point, then × 10ⁿ. Example: 1.23 × 10⁴ = 12,300.
EngineeringExponent is a multiple of 3, so the coefficient is between 1 and 1000. Matches SI prefixes (k, M, µ, n, …).
E-notationComputer-friendly form used in code and spreadsheets: 1.23e4 means 1.23 × 10⁴.
Significant figuresDigits that carry meaning. Rounding to N sig figs keeps the first N significant digits.
Order of magnitudeThe exponent of the scientific form — a quick size estimate. 5,280 ≈ 10³, 0.0042 ≈ 10⁻³.
MultiplicationMultiply coefficients, add exponents: (a × 10ᵐ)(b × 10ⁿ) = ab × 10ᵐ⁺ⁿ.
FAQ
When should I use scientific notation?
Scientific notation is useful for very large or very small numbers — distances in astronomy, masses of atoms, wavelengths of light. It keeps digits compact and makes the order of magnitude explicit, so comparisons are easier.
What is the difference between scientific and engineering notation?
Scientific notation uses one non-zero digit before the decimal point, so the exponent can be any integer. Engineering notation restricts the exponent to multiples of 3 (…, 10⁻³, 10⁰, 10³, 10⁶, …) so the coefficient is always between 1 and 1000. Engineering form lines up with SI prefixes — kilo, mega, milli, micro — which is why engineers prefer it.
What does "significant figures" mean?
Significant figures are the digits of a measurement that carry real information. Leading zeros do not count, trailing zeros after a decimal point do. 0.00456 has 3 sig figs, 4.560 has 4. When rounding, only the first N significant digits are kept; the rest are replaced by zeros or dropped.
How do I add numbers in scientific notation?
To add or subtract two numbers in scientific notation, first rewrite them with the same exponent. Then add the coefficients. For example 3.2 × 10⁴ + 1.5 × 10³ = 3.2 × 10⁴ + 0.15 × 10⁴ = 3.35 × 10⁴. This calculator handles the exponent alignment automatically.
What is E-notation and when is it used?
E-notation writes 1.23 × 10⁴ as 1.23e4 or 1.23E+04. It is the standard form for numbers in programming languages, spreadsheets and scientific calculators, because it uses only ASCII characters and no superscripts. The "e" stands for "times 10 to the power of", not for Euler's number.
Why does the calculator show "order of magnitude"?
The order of magnitude is the exponent in the scientific form — it tells you roughly how big a number is, in powers of ten. A value around 10⁶ is "a million", a value near 10⁻⁹ is "nano". Comparing orders of magnitude is a quick way to check whether two quantities are on the same scale.
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Convert any number between four notations side by side: standard decimal, scientific (one non-zero digit before the decimal point), engineering (exponent as a multiple of 3, matching SI prefixes), and E-notation used in code and spreadsheets. The parser accepts every common input form — 314000, 0.000314, 3.14e5, 3.14E+5, 3.14 × 10^5, 3.14 × 10⁵, 3.14·10⁻²³ — so results snap in immediately. A significant-figures slider from 1 to 10 re-rounds the output live and shows the order of magnitude.
The Arithmetic mode adds, subtracts, multiplies or divides two numbers written in any notation and returns the result in every form. One click loads physics constants — speed of light, Planck h, Avogadro Nₐ, Boltzmann k, electron and proton mass — so checking quick estimates like Nₐ × k ≈ 8.314 takes seconds.