Scientific Calculator
Full-featured scientific calculator with trig, logarithms, powers, and more.
The Formula
1. Parentheses
2. Exponents
3. Multiplication / Division (left to right)
4. Addition / Subtraction (left to right)
= 2 + 3 × 16 − 3
= 2 + 48 − 3
= 47
What a Scientific Calculator Can Do
Our scientific calculator goes well beyond basic arithmetic. It handles trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan and their inverses — arcsin, arccos, arctan), logarithms in base 10 and natural log (ln), exponents and roots, factorials, and the mathematical constants pi (π ≈ 3.14159) and Euler's number (e ≈ 2.71828). You can toggle between degree and radian mode for trig calculations, which matters significantly — sin(90°) = 1, but sin(90 radians) ≈ 0.894.
Order of Operations
The calculator follows standard order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS): Parentheses first, then Exponents, then Multiplication and Division (left to right), then Addition and Subtraction (left to right). When in doubt, add parentheses to make your intended order explicit. A common mistake: entering 2 + 3 x 4 expecting 20, but getting 14 because multiplication is evaluated before addition.
Degrees vs. Radians
Degrees divide a full circle into 360 parts and are used in everyday geometry, navigation, and most high school math. Radians divide a circle into 2π parts (about 6.283) and are the natural unit for calculus and physics. The conversion is: degrees x (π/180) = radians. Most scientific calculators default to degrees mode. Switch to radians when working on calculus problems, physics equations involving angular velocity, or any formula where the argument of a trig function is expressed in terms of π.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the order of operations?
PEMDAS (or BODMAS): Parentheses first, then Exponents, then Multiplication and Division (left to right), then Addition and Subtraction (left to right). Example: 2 + 3 x 4 = 14 (not 20), because multiplication happens before addition.
What is scientific notation?
Scientific notation expresses very large or small numbers as a number between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10. Example: 5,400,000 = 5.4 x 10^6. The number 0.000034 = 3.4 x 10^-5. It makes calculations with extreme values manageable.
What is the difference between sin, cos, and tan?
These are the three primary trigonometric functions. In a right triangle: sin(angle) = opposite/hypotenuse, cos(angle) = adjacent/hypotenuse, tan(angle) = opposite/adjacent. They are used to calculate angles and sides of triangles and appear throughout science and engineering.
What is a factorial?
A factorial (n!) is the product of all positive integers up to n. Example: 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 120. Factorials appear frequently in probability, combinations, and permutations. By definition, 0! = 1.
What does the modulo (mod) function do?
The modulo operation returns the remainder after division. Example: 17 mod 5 = 2, because 17 / 5 = 3 remainder 2. It is used in programming, cryptography, and anywhere you need to work with cycles or remainders.
When should I use degrees vs. radians?
Degrees (0-360) are more intuitive for everyday use. Radians are the natural unit for mathematics and physics -- a full circle is 2pi radians. When using trigonometric functions in calculus or programming, radians are typically required. Ensure your calculator is in the right mode before computing trig functions.