Scientific Notation Calculator

Convert numbers to and from scientific notation, or perform arithmetic operations (×, ÷, +, −) in scientific notation. Shows all steps and multiple output formats.

Mode Convert or Calculate
Accepts standard, scientific (e notation), or decimal form
Powers of 10 quick reference
10⁻⁹ (nano)0.000000001
10⁻⁶ (micro)0.000001
10⁻³ (milli)0.001
10⁰1
10³ (kilo)1,000
10⁶ (mega)1,000,000
10⁹ (giga)1,000,000,000
10¹² (tera)1,000,000,000,000
FAQs
What is scientific notation? ›
Scientific notation expresses numbers as a product of a coefficient (between 1 and 10) and a power of 10. Format: a × 10ⁿ where 1 ≤ |a| < 10. Examples: 300,000 = 3 × 10⁵; 0.00042 = 4.2 × 10⁻⁴. It's used in science and engineering to write very large or very small numbers compactly. The exponent tells you how many places the decimal point moves: positive = right (large number), negative = left (small number).
How do you multiply numbers in scientific notation? ›
To multiply: (1) Multiply the coefficients; (2) Add the exponents; (3) Adjust if the new coefficient is not between 1 and 10. Example: (3 × 10⁴) × (2 × 10³) = (3×2) × 10^(4+3) = 6 × 10⁷. To divide: divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents. Example: (8 × 10⁶) ÷ (2 × 10²) = 4 × 10⁴.
How do you add numbers in scientific notation? ›
To add or subtract: (1) Convert both numbers to the same exponent; (2) Add or subtract the coefficients; (3) Keep the same power of 10; (4) Adjust to proper scientific notation if needed. Example: 3.2 × 10⁵ + 4.5 × 10⁴ = 3.2 × 10⁵ + 0.45 × 10⁵ = 3.65 × 10⁵. It's often easier to convert to standard form, add, then convert back.