Scientific Notation Converter
Turn long numbers into scientific notation and convert them back to standard form.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded anywhere.
How to use this tool
This scientific notation calculator works two ways. To go from a plain number to scientific notation, keep the first tab selected, type the number you want to normalize (for example a long figure like 149600000 or a tiny one like 0.000045), and press Convert. If you want a fixed number of significant figures, enter that number in the optional box; otherwise the tool keeps the value exact. To go the other direction, switch to the "Scientific to standard" tab, enter the coefficient and the exponent in their own boxes, and press Convert to see the full standard notation. Use Copy result to put the answer on your clipboard.
How scientific notation works
Scientific notation rewrites any number as a coefficient (a) multiplied by a power of ten (10^b). The coefficient is always at least 1 and less than 10 in absolute value, so there is exactly one nonzero digit before the decimal point. The exponent b tells you how many places to move the decimal point: a positive exponent shifts it right for large numbers, while a negative exponent shifts it left for small numbers. Normalizing long numbers this way makes them easy to read, compare, and use in calculations without counting long strings of zeros.
A real example
The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is about 149,600,000 kilometers. To convert this large number, move the decimal point eight places to the left so the coefficient becomes 1.496, which is between 1 and 10. Each place you moved adds one to the exponent, giving 1.496 x 10^8. Going back is just as direct: starting from 1.496 x 10^8, move the decimal eight places to the right and you recover 149,600,000. For a small value like 0.000045, you move the decimal five places to the right to get 4.5, and because you moved right the exponent is negative, so the result is 4.5 x 10^-5.
Common questions
What is scientific notation used for?
It is a compact way to write very large or very small numbers using a coefficient between 1 and 10 times a power of ten. Scientists, engineers, and students use it to handle distances, populations, atomic sizes, and other figures without writing out long strings of zeros.
How do I read an answer like 4.5 x 10^-5?
The exponent -5 means you move the decimal point five places to the left of the coefficient 4.5, which gives 0.000045. A negative exponent always indicates a number smaller than one.
What is the difference between scientific and standard notation?
Standard notation is the plain written-out number, such as 149600000. Scientific notation expresses the same value as a coefficient times a power of ten, such as 1.496 x 10^8. This tool converts freely between the two.
Does the significant figures box change my number?
It rounds the coefficient to the number of significant figures you choose. For example, 149,600,000 to three significant figures becomes 1.50 x 10^8. Leave the box blank to keep the value as exact as the browser can represent it.
Can it handle negative numbers?
Yes. A leading minus sign is kept on the coefficient, so a value such as -52000 converts to -5.2 x 10^4, and converting back returns the negative standard number.