This scientific notation calculator rewrites any number as a coefficient times a power of ten, and converts notation back to standard form.
Math
Scientific Notation Calculator
Normalize nonzero numbers into coefficient times a power of ten.
Calculator
About this calculator
Formula notes
A number is written as c × 10ⁿ with 1 ≤ |c| < 10; moving the decimal point left gives a positive exponent, right gives a negative one.
Worked examples
- Example: 123456 becomes 1.23456 × 10⁵, as the default conversion shows.
- The number 0.0000725 becomes 7.25 x 10^-5; moving the decimal 5 places right produces a negative exponent.
How to use it
- Enter the number or the notation you want to convert.
- Read the normalized coefficient and exponent.
- Use it for physics, chemistry, or very large/small data.
Frequently asked questions
Why must the coefficient be between 1 and 10?
That normalized form makes magnitudes comparable at a glance and is the standard convention.
Does it handle very small numbers?
Yes. Values below 1 get a negative exponent, like 0.002 = 2 × 10⁻³.
Limits and interpretation
- Normalized scientific notation conventionally keeps a coefficient whose absolute value is at least 1 and less than 10.
- Converting notation does not create measurement precision; significant trailing zeros must be interpreted from the source.