Scientific Notation Calculator and Converter (2024)

Convert a number to scientific notation, E notation, or engineering notation or vice-versa using the scientific notation calculator.

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Solution:

Scientific Notation

5.2 × 10⁸

E Notation

5.2e+8

Engineering Notation

520 × 10⁶

Decimal Notation

520000000.0

Learn how we calculated this below

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Cite As:

Sexton, J. (n.d.). Scientific Notation Calculator and Converter. Inch Calculator. Retrieved May 20, 2024, from https://www.inchcalculator.com/scientific-notation-calculator/

How to Convert Scientific Notation to Decimal Form

Scientific notation, also called standard form, represents very large numbers or very small numbers in a shorter, more digestible format. Numbers in scientific notation are an expression of a coefficient multiplied by 10 to the nth power.

Here’s an example:

1.5 × 10²

The number to the left of the multiplication symbol is the coefficient, sometimes also called the mantissa. These are the significant digits in the number.

The number of digits in the coefficient will vary depending on how many significant figures are in the number. Use our significant figures calculator to find significant figures or round a number to a specified number of significant digits to prepare for conversion to scientific notation.

Convert Using a Calculator

To convert a number that is currently in scientific notation to decimal notation, evaluate the expression. To do so, multiply the coefficient by ten to the nth power (or check out an even easier solution below).

You can also use our exponent calculator to evaluate the second part of the expression, then multiply the result by the coefficient.

For example, let’s convert 1.5 × 10² to decimal form.

1.5 × 10² = 1.5 × 100
1.5 × 10² = 150

Convert Scientific Notation without a Calculator

We’ve shown you how to convert a number expressed in scientific notation to a decimal by evaluating, but this becomes more tedious to do manually as the exponent gets larger. There’s an alternate way to convert to decimal without performing explicit multiplication.

If the exponent is positive, move the decimal point in the coefficient to the right one space for each value in the exponent. If the exponent is negative, move the decimal point one space to the left for each value in the exponent.

For instance, if the exponent is two, then move the decimal point to the right two spaces. If the exponent is negative two, then move the decimal point to the left two spaces.

For example, let’s convert 1.5 × 10² to a decimal using this method.

1.5 × 10² = 15.0 × 10¹
1.5 × 10² = 150 × 10⁰
1.5 × 10² = 150

How to Convert a Decimal to Scientific Notation

Converting a decimal number to scientific notation can be done in a few simple steps.

Step One: Create Initial Expression

First, create an expression with the initial decimal being the coefficient multiplied by 10 to the power of 0.

For example, let’s create the starting scientific notation expression for the decimal 475,000.
475,000 = 475,000 × 10⁰

Step Two: Move the Decimal Point

Now that we have an expression, the second step is to move the decimal point in the coefficient until there is one significant digit to the left of the decimal point. For each space you move the decimal point to the left, increase the exponent by 1.

Continuing the example above, move the decimal point to the left and incrementally increase the exponent.

475,000 = 475,000.0 × 10⁰
475,000 = 47,500.0 × 10¹
475,000 = 4,750.0 × 10²
475,000 = 475.0 × 10³
475,000 = 47.5 × 10⁴
475,000 = 4.75 × 10⁵

What About Numbers Less Than One?

The method above works for large numbers, but as mentioned above, the method for handling numbers smaller than one is a bit different.

Instead of moving the decimal point to the left in the coefficient, the decimal point needs to be moved to the right until one non-zero significant digit is to the left of the decimal point. Because the number is getting larger, we need to decrement a number from the exponent every time the decimal point is moved.

For example, let’s convert 0.00025 to scientific notation.

0.00025 = 0.00025 × 10⁰
0.00025 = 0.0025 × 10^-1
0.00025 = 0.025 × 10^-2
0.00025 = 0.25 × 10^-3
0.00025 = 2.5 × 10^-4

How to Use Exponential Notation

Exponential notation, or E notation, is another form of scientific notation where the “× 10” part of the equation is replaced with an “e” or “e+” if the exponent is positive and “e-” if the exponent is negative.

The “E” in E notation stands for exponential. This form is also commonly referred to as scientific E notation.

For example, let’s represent 1.5 × 10² and 6.8 x 10^-7 in E notation.

1.5 × 10² = 1.5e+2
6.8 × 10^-7 = 6.8e-7

How to Convert to Engineering Notation

Not to be confused with E notation, engineering notation is an alternate form of scientific notation where the exponent is a multiple of 3.

To convert scientific notation to engineering notation, move the decimal point in the coefficient to the right and reduce the exponent until the exponent is a multiple of 3.

For example, let’s represent 1.5 × 10⁵ in engineering notation.
1.5 × 10⁵ = 15.0 × 10⁴
1.5 × 10⁵ = 150.0 × 10³

Scientific Notation and Decimal Equivalents

Decimal numbers and the equivalent values in scientific notation, E notation, and engineering notation.
Decimal Number	Scientific Notation	E Notation	Engineering Notation
1	1 × 10⁰	1E+0	1 × 10⁰
1,000	1 × 10³	1E+3	1 × 10³
72,000	7.2 × 10⁴	7.2E+4	72 × 10³
1,349.12	1.34912 × 10³	1.34912E+3	1.34912 × 10³
0.000000435	4.35 × 10^-7	4.35E-7	435 × 10^-9
-7,500	-7.5 × 10³	-7.5E+3	-7.5 × 10³
-0.00005234	-5.234 × 10^-5	-5.234E-5	-52.34 × 10^-6

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is scientific notation important?

Scientific notation is important because it allows one to make very large or very small numbers much more readable and manageable. They also make calculations easier because multiplying two very large numbers in scientific notation together, for example, would consist of simply multiplying the coefficients together and then adding the exponents.

As an example, multiply 2 × 10⁴ and 3 × 10⁶:

(2 × 10⁴) × (3 × 10⁶) = 6 × 10¹⁰

When should scientific notation be used?

Scientific notation should be used when working with very large or very small numbers, and converting to this format would make the numbers much easier to work with.

Are scientific notation and standard form the same?

Yes, scientific notation and standard form are two different names for the same mathematical format.

How are scientific notation and exponential notation different?

Scientific notation uses a coefficient, a multiplication sign, and a ten to some exponent, whereas exponential notation uses a coefficient, the letter e, and the exponent.

For example, 3 × 10⁴ = 3e4

Visual Guide to Convert to Scientific Notation

The infographic below demonstrates visually how to convert a number to scientific notation.