Scientific Notation Converter
Convert a number to scientific, engineering and E notation and plain decimal, with the SI prefix table and notes on significant figures.
SI prefixes
| Prefix | Symbol | Power of ten |
|---|---|---|
| tera | T | 10¹² |
| giga | G | 10⁹ |
| mega | M | 10⁶ |
| kilo | k | 10³ |
| (none) | — | 10⁰ = 1 |
| milli | m | 10⁻³ |
| micro | µ | 10⁻⁶ |
| nano | n | 10⁻⁹ |
| pico | p | 10⁻¹² |
Significant figures
The converter reads the number as a value, so trailing zeros you type are not kept. 1.200 shows as 1.2. If a measurement has a specific number of significant figures, record that separately.
How to enter numbers
Type a plain number (12345.6789), E notation (4.7e-5) or the form 4.7×10^-5. Commas and spaces are ignored.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between scientific and engineering notation?
Scientific notation puts one non-zero digit before the decimal point, as in 4.7 × 10⁻⁵. Engineering notation keeps the exponent a multiple of three, as in 47 × 10⁻⁶, so it lines up with the SI prefixes: 47 µ.
What does 1.5e3 mean?
It is E notation, used by calculators and spreadsheets: 1.5 × 10³ = 1,500.
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