Skip to content
Toolspire

Education Tools

Scientific Notation Converter

Scientific Notation Converter is part of Toolspire and is ready as soon as this page loads. The coefficient keeps its sign. −12345 is −1.2345 × 10^4. Zero is 0 × 10^0. The page does not switch to engineering notation, which uses powers that are multiples of 3.

Runs in this tabFreeNo account

On this page

What you can do here

One convention

Engineering notation (10^3, 10^6) is not applied. 12345 is 10^4, not 12.345 × 10^3.

The sign stays on the coefficient

A negative exponent would mean a small number, which is a different fact.

Integers and decimals

0.00125 becomes 1.25 × 10^−3.

The sequence

How to use the Scientific Notation Converter

  1. 1

    Type the plain number

    Commas are not accepted in this box. 12345, not 12,345.

  2. 2

    Check 1.2345 × 10^4

    The point moved four places from the end of 12345.

  3. 3

    Try a small decimal

    0.00125 should show a negative exponent, −3.

Worth knowing

  • Scientific Notation Converter on Toolspire: 12345 = 1.2345 × 10^4. The exponent is the number of places the point moved.
  • The coefficient has absolute value in [1, 10), except for zero.
  • −12345 keeps the minus on the coefficient, not on the exponent.
  • 0 is reported as 0 × 10^0 rather than left blank.

Move the point until one digit remains in front

Scientific notation slides the decimal point until the absolute value is at least 1 and less than 10, and counts the slides as the power of ten. 12345 needs four slides left, so the power is 4. 0.00125 needs three slides right, so the power is −3. Zero has no slides to count and is written as 0 × 10^0 so the pattern still has both parts.

FAQ

Questions about Scientific Notation Converter

Where does Scientific Notation Converter run?

Scientific Notation Converter runs in this tab on Toolspire. What you type or drop in is not sent to us and is not stored on a server.

How is 12345 written?

1.2345 × 10^4.

How is 0.00125 written?

1.25 × 10^−3.

Where does the minus of a negative number go?

On the coefficient. −12345 is −1.2345 × 10^4.

Is this engineering notation?

No. Engineering notation would force the power to a multiple of 3. 12345 would then be 12.345 × 10^3.

Keep going

Related tools

Exponent CalculatorNewRaise a base to a power. 2 to the 10th is 1,024. Integer powers use an exact integer path so 2^10 is not 1023.999. Open Exponent Calculator on Toolspire.Education ToolsSignificant Figures RounderNewSignificant Figures Rounder on Toolspire: Round a number to a chosen count of significant figures. 1.2345 to three significant figures is 1.23.Education ToolsPercent Error CalculatorNewPercent Error Calculator on Toolspire: Divide the absolute gap between a measured value and an accepted value by the accepted value.Education ToolsWorksheet GeneratorNewMaths worksheet generator: printable addition, subtraction, times tables and division sheets with answer keys. Set the difficulty, download a PDF.Education ToolsRandom Name PickerNewRandom Name Picker on Toolspire. Pick random names with a spinning wheel: one or several winners, no repeats, and random groups. Fair, private and free.Education ToolsOMR Sheet GeneratorNewOMR Sheet Generator on Toolspire. Make printable OMR answer sheets free: up to 300 questions, 4 or 5 options, roll number bubbles.Education Tools

Open the full directory

Last updated Report a problem or suggest a feature