How to use this calculator
- Pick an input mode that matches your data.
- Enter either a decimal/scientific string or mantissa and exponent.
- Choose significant figures to control rounding.
- Press Convert to view formats and exports.
Formula used
This converter expresses values using the power-of-ten identity:
N = a × 10^b, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10 for scientific notation.
- Scientific: choose b so the mantissa is in the range above.
- Engineering: choose b as a multiple of 3.
- Decimal: shift the decimal point by b places.
Example data
| Input | Scientific | Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00045 | 4.5 × 10^-4 | 450 × 10^-6 |
| 3.2e7 | 3.2 × 10^7 | 32 × 10^6 |
| 1.25 × 10^-9 | 1.25 × 10^-9 | 1.25 × 10^-9 |
| 10^6 | 1 × 10^6 | 1 × 10^6 |
Note: engineering examples keep the exponent in steps of three.
FAQs
1) What is a power of ten?
A power of ten is 10^n, where n is an integer. Positive exponents scale up, while negative exponents scale down by moving the decimal point.
2) What is scientific notation used for?
Scientific notation writes numbers as a × 10^b. It makes very large and very small values easier to read, compare, and calculate.
3) How is engineering notation different?
Engineering notation is scientific notation with an exponent that is always a multiple of three. This aligns neatly with common metric prefixes.
4) What are SI prefixes in this converter?
SI prefixes are shorthand for powers of ten in steps of three. Examples include m for 10^-3 and k for 10^3.
5) Why does my decimal output look shortened?
Extremely large exponents can create huge strings. The calculator switches to a compact scientific-style output when expanding decimals would be impractical.
6) What does “significant figures” control?
Significant figures control rounding precision. A higher value keeps more digits in the mantissa, producing outputs that retain more detail across formats.
7) Can I enter values like 10^9 directly?
Yes. In decimal mode, you can type 10^9 to represent one billion, or use 10^-6 for one millionth.
8) What do the CSV and PDF exports contain?
Exports include decimal, scientific, engineering, and SI-prefixed values. They also include your chosen significant-figure setting for easier reporting.