How to use the scientific calculator
Type an expression in the box or tap the keys. The answer updates as you type; press = or Enter to save it to your history and to ans, which you can use in the next calculation.
| Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + − × ÷ (or * /) | Add, subtract, multiply, divide | 12 × 3 − 4 = 32 |
| ^ | Power | 2^10 = 1,024 |
| √( ) or sqrt( ), cbrt( ) | Square and cube root | √(81) = 9 |
| ! | Factorial | 5! = 120 |
| % | Percent (divides by 100) | 200 × 15% = 30 |
| sin cos tan, asin acos atan | Trig, in degrees or radians | sin(30) = 0.5 in degrees |
| ln( ), log( ), exp( ) | Natural log, base-10 log, e to a power | log(1000) = 3 |
| π, e, ans | Constants and your last answer | 2π = 6.283185307180 |
You can skip the × sign: 2π, 3(4+1) and (2)(5) all multiply.
Order of operations
The calculator follows the standard order: brackets first, then factorials and percentages, then powers (worked right to left, so 2^3^2 = 2^9 = 512), then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction, each left to right. A minus sign in front applies after the power, so −3^2 = −9 while (−3)^2 = 9.
Example: 2^10 + √(16) × 3 = 1,024 + 4 × 3 = 1,036.
Everything is worked out in your browser with standard double-precision numbers, accurate to about 15 significant digits. For fractions with exact answers, use the fraction calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch between degrees and radians?
Use the Degrees and Radians tabs above the box. Trig functions and their inverses use the selected unit; nothing else changes.
Why is sin(180) exactly 0 here?
Computers can't store π exactly, so sin(180°) comes out as a tiny number like 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁶. The calculator rounds anything that small to 0, as a handheld calculator does.
What is the largest factorial it can do?
170!, about 7.26 × 10³⁰⁶. Anything larger is beyond the largest number a standard double can hold, so it shows ∞.
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