Scientific Notation
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Add this free scientific notation converter to your website or blog.
Always make sure there is exactly ONE non-zero digit to the left of the decimal point. 12.3 × 10⁴ is incorrect. It should be 1.23 × 10⁵.
Big numbers (like 1,000,000) have positive exponents. Tiny decimals (like 0.000001) have negative exponents. Think: "Negative exponent = Small number".
If your calculator says "2.5E-4", it means 2.5 × 10⁻⁴. Don't write "E" on your math test unless your teacher allows it!
When converting TO scientific notation: moving decimal Left increases the exponent (L for Larger). Moving Right decreases it (R for Reduce).
Don't confuse a negative number with a negative exponent. -5.2 × 10³ is a large negative number (-5200). 5.2 × 10⁻³ is a small positive number (0.0052).
The exponent tells you how many PLACES to move the decimal, not how many zeros to add. 1.5 × 10² is 150 (one zero), not 1500.