Scientific notation calculator
Calculator
The calculator needs JavaScript. The tables below give the same numbers for common cases.
How it is worked out
- Move the decimal point so that one non-zero digit is left of it: 1.23456.
- Count the places moved: 5 places to the left, so the power of ten is 5.
| Inputs | Answer |
|---|---|
| Number: 123456 | 123,456 = 1.23456 × 10^5. |
| Number: 0.00042 | 0.00042 = 4.2 × 10^-4. |
| Number: 3.2e5 | 320,000 = 3.2 × 10^5. |
| Number: 602214076000000000000000 | 6.0221408 × 10^23 = 6.02214076 × 10^23. |
How to use it
Scientific notation writes a number as a × 10ⁿ with 1 ≤ |a| < 10. Move the decimal point until one non-zero digit is to its left; the number of places moved is the exponent (positive if you moved left, negative if right). 123,456 = 1.23456 × 10⁵ and 0.00042 = 4.2 × 10⁻⁴.
E notation is the same thing as it appears on calculators and in code: 1.23456e5. The calculator also shows the number in ordinary (standard) form.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write 123,456 in scientific notation?
1.23456 × 10⁵.
How do I write 0.00042 in scientific notation?
4.2 × 10⁻⁴.
What does 3.2e5 mean?
3.2 × 10⁵ = 320,000.
Method: standard arithmetic shown step by step; no outside data is used. Checked 2026-11-12.
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General information only. Results are plain arithmetic on the numbers you enter; check anything important (money, health, school work) against your own records or the official source.