Scientific Notation Converter
Convert between standard decimal form, scientific notation and engineering notation.
What the Scientific Notation Converter does
Scientific notation writes a number as a mantissa between 1 and 10 times a power of ten. Engineering notation restricts the exponent to multiples of three so it lines up with SI prefixes like kilo, mega and micro.
Formula
x = m × 10ⁿ where 1 ≤ |m| < 10
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | number | Yes | — |
| Significant figures | number | Optional | Accepts 1 or more, up to 15. |
How to use it
- Enter Number.
- Optionally add Significant figures.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
Express 0.00000123 in scientific notation.
- Number
- 0.00000123
1.23 × 10⁻⁶, or 1.23e-6.
Reading the result
- The exponent counts how far the decimal point moves: positive for large numbers, negative for small. 4.2 × 10⁻³ is 0.0042.
- Engineering notation holds the exponent to multiples of three so it lines up with SI prefixes — 4.7 × 10³ Ω reads directly as 4.7 kΩ.
Common mistakes
- Counting the exponent in the wrong direction. Moving the point left raises the exponent; moving it right lowers it.
- Leaving the mantissa outside the range 1 to 10. 42 × 10³ is a valid number but is not scientific notation — 4.2 × 10⁴ is.
Frequently asked questions
Which way does the exponent go?
Negative for numbers below 1, positive for numbers above 10. The exponent counts how many places the decimal point moved.