Scientific Notation & Engineering Prefix Converter
Convert decimal numbers into scientific notation (a × 10ᵇ), engineering notation, SI metric prefixes (kilo, mega, micro, nano), and significant figure precision.
Calculated Results
Frequently Asked Questions
What is scientific notation and why is it used?
Scientific notation expresses numbers as a coefficient between 1.0 and 10.0 multiplied by 10 raised to an integer exponent (a × 10^b). It simplifies calculations with extremely large astronomical numbers or microscopic atomic measurements.
What is the difference between scientific and engineering notation?
In standard scientific notation, the coefficient is always between 1 and 10 (e.g. 4.5 × 10^-5). In engineering notation, the exponent is strictly constrained to multiples of 3 (10^3, 10^6, 10^-6), directly aligning with SI metric prefixes like kilo, mega, micro, and nano.
What do positive vs negative exponents represent?
A positive exponent (e.g. 10^6) indicates a large number where the decimal point moved to the left (1,000,000 = 1 × 10^6). A negative exponent (e.g. 10^-6) indicates a decimal fraction where the decimal point moved to the right (0.000001 = 1 × 10^-6).
What is E-notation?
E-notation (or e-notation) is computer shorthand for scientific notation, where 'e' or 'E' stands for 'times 10 to the power of'. For instance, 6.022 × 10^23 is entered as 6.022e23.