Scientific notation writes very large or very small numbers compactly as a number between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of ten. Enter a number in any format to convert it, and choose how many significant figures to keep.
Formula
x = a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10
n counts how many places the decimal point moves: positive for large numbers, negative for small ones. Engineering notation restricts n to multiples of 3, matching prefixes like kilo, mega and micro.
Worked example
6,020,000 = 6.02 × 10⁶ (the decimal point moves 6 places left). 0.000012345 = 1.2345 × 10⁻⁵, or 12.345 × 10⁻⁶ in engineering notation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a number in scientific notation?
Move the decimal point until one non-zero digit is left of it, then multiply by 10 to the power of the number of places moved (negative if you moved right).
What does 1.5e8 mean?
It is E notation for 1.5 × 10⁸, which is 150,000,000. Calculators and spreadsheets use it for very large or small numbers.
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