Scientific Notation Converter
Convert any number to and from scientific, E and engineering notation.
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Step by step
The formula
a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10
Scientific notation separates a number’s digits from its scale, so 0.00042 and 42,000 become 4.2 with different exponents. It keeps very large and very small quantities readable, and makes the significant figures explicit — which is why every scientific field uses it.
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Common questions this calculator answers — select one to load its values.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between scientific and engineering notation?+
Scientific notation keeps the mantissa between 1 and 10. Engineering notation allows 1 to 1000 but forces the exponent to a multiple of three, so it lines up with SI prefixes like kilo, milli and micro.
What does the “e” mean on a calculator?+
It is shorthand for “× 10 to the power of”. So 4.2e-4 means 4.2 × 10⁻⁴, or 0.00042.
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