Scientific notation calculator
Convert numbers to and from scientific, E and engineering notation.
About this calculator
This scientific notation calculator converts a number into scientific notation, such as 4.52 × 10⁻⁴, and back into ordinary decimal form.
It also shows E notation, used by calculators and spreadsheets, engineering notation and the number of significant figures.
How it works
Scientific notation writes a number as a × 10ⁿ, with a between 1 and 10. Engineering notation uses powers of ten in steps of three, which match prefixes like kilo, mega and micro.
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Worked example
- Number, such as 0.000452, 6.02e23 or 3.1 × 10^5: 0.000452
Scientific notation: 4.52 × 10⁻⁴
Common questions
How do I write a number in scientific notation?
Move the decimal point until one non-zero digit is left of it, and count the moves. 45,000 becomes 4.5 × 10⁴, and 0.0032 becomes 3.2 × 10⁻³.
What does 6.02e23 mean?
It's E notation for 6.02 × 10²³. The e stands for times ten to the power of.
What is engineering notation?
Like scientific notation, but the power of ten is always a multiple of 3, such as 45 × 10³. It lines up with units like kilometres and milligrams.
The story behind it
Where the idea came from: In The Sand Reckoner, Archimedes estimated how many grains of sand would fill the universe, and invented a way to write such huge numbers.
Archimedes' answer, about 10⁶³ grains, needed a new system of counting in powers. Scientists today use powers of ten to handle the very large and the very small, from the distance to stars to the size of atoms.
Why you can trust this calculator
- It runs in your browser. Nothing you type into it is sent anywhere.
- The method is explained on this page, so you can check it yourself.
- Free to use, with no sign-up.
- Results are estimates, so please double-check anything important.
- Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll look into it.
After 15 years as a mathematics educator, I built CalculStore to give students, teachers, professionals and anyone working with numbers simple, reliable tools.
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