Scientific Notation Converter (Free, Both Ways)
Use this free scientific notation converter to switch between standard form and scientific notation in both directions. Enter a number to write it as a × 10ⁿ, or enter a coefficient and exponent to expand it back to standard form.
How to use the converter
- Pick a direction: Standard → Scientific or Scientific → Standard.
- Enter your value(s).
- Read the converted result and the step-by-step explanation of how the decimal point moved.
What is scientific notation?
Scientific notation writes a number as a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10 and n is an integer. It makes very large and very small numbers easy to read and compare.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write a number in scientific notation?
Move the decimal point so one nonzero digit is in front of it; the number of places you moved becomes the exponent (positive for large numbers, negative for small ones).
What does a negative exponent mean?
A negative exponent means the original number is less than 1 — for example, 4.2 × 10⁻⁴ = 0.00042.
Does it convert both directions?
Yes — standard to scientific and scientific back to standard, each with the steps shown.
Read the full lesson: learn the method step by step.
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