Scientific notation compresses very large or very small numbers into a short form: a × 10ⁿ.
About this calculator
Scientific notation compresses very large or very small numbers into a short form: a × 10ⁿ. Avogadro's number 6.022 × 10²³, the mass of an electron 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kg, and national GDP figures in lakhs of crores all read easier in this format.
Enter a plain decimal like 1234500 or already-scientific input like 1.2345e6 or 1.2345 × 10^6. The calculator shows the coefficient, exponent, E-notation (1.2345e6), and expanded decimal form.
Moving the decimal right decreases the exponent; moving left increases it. Each shift by one place changes the exponent by one. Zero is written as 0 × 10⁰.
For rounding results use the [[rounding]] calculator. For powers of ten use the [[exponent]] calculator. For statistics on large datasets try the [[mean-median-mode]] calculator.
Common uses
- Convert homework answers between decimal and scientific form
- Express astronomical distances or atomic sizes compactly
- Check E-notation input before coding or spreadsheet entry
- Standardise lab measurements for reports
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 1234500 in scientific notation?
Move the decimal left 6 places: 1.2345 × 10⁶. The coefficient is between 1 and 10; the exponent counts how far you moved the decimal.
What is E-notation?
E-notation is computer-style scientific notation. 1.2345e6 means 1.2345 × 10⁶. A negative exponent like 3.2e-4 means 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ = 0.00032.
Can I enter scientific notation as input?
Yes. The calculator accepts plain decimals, E-notation (1.5e10), and forms like 1.5 × 10^10 or 1.5*10^10. It returns both the scientific and decimal representations.
What is the rule for the coefficient a?
In standard scientific notation, |a| is at least 1 and less than 10 (or a is exactly 0). So 4500 becomes 4.5 × 10³, not 45 × 10².