Scientific Notation Converter

Converts numbers such as 0.000123 or 6.022e23 into scientific notation (a × 10ⁿ), engineering notation, E notation and standard form, and shows them in words. It also calculates with two numbers in scientific notation, with steps.

How to use

1. On the "Convert" tab, type a value in "Number", for example 0.000123, 6.022e23 or 1.2×10^-5.
2. All forms and the number of significant figures appear at once. Choose a count under "Significant figures" to round to it.
3. On the "Calculate" tab, enter the "First number" and "Second number" and choose the "Operation" to get the result and the steps.
4. The "SI prefixes" tab lists prefixes such as kilo, mega and nano with their factors.

How it works

• Scientific notation writes a number as a × 10ⁿ with 1 ≤ |a| < 10. Engineering notation uses only exponents that are multiples of 3, so each one matches an SI prefix.
• The digits you type are handled as exact decimals, so very large and small numbers keep every digit.
• On the "Calculate" tab, "Result (significant figures)" follows the usual rules: × and ÷ keep the fewest significant figures, + and − round to the least precise decimal place.

Questions and answers

How do I convert a number to scientific notation?

Move the decimal point until one non-zero digit is in front of it; the number of places moved is the exponent, positive if you moved left and negative if right. 0.000123 is 1.23 × 10⁻⁴.

What does the e in 6.022e23 mean?

It is E notation for "times ten to the power of". 6.022e23 is 6.022 × 10²³, and 1.2e-5 is 0.000012.

How is engineering notation different from scientific notation?

Engineering notation only uses exponents that are multiples of 3. 0.00047 is 4.7 × 10⁻⁴ in scientific notation and 470 × 10⁻⁶ in engineering notation, which is 470 micro.

How do you multiply numbers in scientific notation?

Multiply the numbers in front and add the exponents: (2 × 10³) × (3 × 10⁴) = 6 × 10⁷. To divide, divide the numbers in front and subtract the exponents.