Scientific Notation Converter
Type a number in any form, such as 123,000,000 or 0.00012 or 4.5e-7, and see it written in scientific notation, E notation, engineering notation and as an ordinary decimal.
Type a number and the answer appears straight away.
Scientific notation1.2 x 10^-4
- E notation
- 1.2e-4
- Engineering notation
- 120 x 10^-6
- Standard form
- 0.00012
- Significant figures
- 2
- Order of magnitude
- 10^-4
Move the decimal point until one non-zero digit sits in front of it. The number of places you moved it is the power of ten: positive for large numbers, negative for small ones.
The math behind it: Scientific Notation
a x 10^n, where a is at least 1 and less than 10
To write a number in scientific notation, move the decimal point until one non-zero digit sits in front of it, and count the places moved. 0.00012 becomes 1.2 x 10^-4 and 123,000,000 becomes 1.23 x 10^8. Moving the point left gives a positive power, and moving it right gives a negative one.
Common questions
How do I write a number in scientific notation?
Move the decimal point so there is one non-zero digit before it, then multiply by 10 raised to the number of places you moved. 123,000,000 is 1.23 x 10^8.
How do I convert scientific notation to a normal number?
Move the decimal point by the power of ten: to the right for a positive power and to the left for a negative one. 4.5 x 10^-7 is 0.00000045.
What does the E mean on a calculator?
It stands for 'times ten to the power of'. 1.2E-4 means 1.2 x 10^-4, which is 0.00012.
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