What is a scientific calculator?
A scientific calculator handles arithmetic plus functions such as trigonometry, logarithms, powers, roots, factorials, combinations, and permutations.
This calculator works in your browser. Tap the keys or type an expression, then press Enter or =.
What can this scientific calculator do?
This calculator supports:
sqrt(x)— find the square root of a numbercbrt(x)— find the cube root of a numberroot(n, x)— find the nth root of a numberx^y— raise a number to a powerln(x)— find the natural log of a numberlog(x)— find the common log (base 10)log2(x)— find the base-2 log of a numberlog(b, x)— find the log of a number to any basesin/cos/tan— trigonometryasin/acos/atan— inverse trigonometrysinh/cosh/tanh— hyperbolic functionsabs(x)— absolute valueround(x)— round to the nearest integerfloor(x)— round downceil(x)— round upmod(a, b)— remainder of a divisionn!— factorial of a numbernCr(n, r)— number of combinationsnPr(n, r)— number of permutationshypot(a, b)— Pythagorean distanceminandmax— smallest or largest of a set
Here are some examples:
| Function | What it means | Example you can try | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
sqrt(x) | Square root | sqrt(144) | 12 |
cbrt(x) | Cube root | cbrt(27) | 3 |
root(n, x) | nth root of x | root(4, 81) | 3 |
x^y | Power | 2^10 | 1024 |
ln(x) | Natural log | ln(e) | 1 |
log(x) | Common log | log(1000) | 3 |
log2(x) | Base-2 log | log2(8) | 3 |
log(b, x) | Log to base b | log(2, 1024) | 10 |
sin/cos/tan | Trig functions | cos(60) | 0.5 |
asin/acos/atan | Inverse trig | atan(1) | 45 |
sinh/cosh/tanh | Hyperbolic | tanh(0) | 0 |
abs(x) | Absolute value | abs(-7) | 7 |
round(x) | Nearest integer | round(2.6) | 3 |
floor(x) / ceil(x) | Round down / up | floor(2.9) | 2 |
mod(a, b) | Remainder | mod(10, 3) | 1 |
n! | Factorial | 5! | 120 |
nCr(n, r) | Combinations | nCr(52, 5) | 2598960 |
nPr(n, r) | Permutations | nPr(5, 2) | 20 |
hypot(a, b) | Pythagorean distance | hypot(3, 4) | 5 |
min/max(...) | Smallest / largest | max(3, 9, 5) | 9 |
How do I use the scientific calculator?
Type the expression you want to solve. For example, use sqrt(144) to find the square root of 144.
The calculator follows an order of operations:
- It does whatever is inside parentheses first.
- Then it does powers and roots.
- Next it does multiplication and division.
- Finally it does addition and subtraction.
Use parentheses when part of an expression needs to be calculated first.
Want to learn more? Check out How to Use Your Scientific Calculator by Melissa Maribel on YouTube.
Use it anywhere in Chrome
Want this calculator a click away on every tab? Get the free scientific calculator extension for Chrome. It gives you a toolbar popup, a side panel, or a floating calculator that stays on top while you work, with history, variables, and a unit converter, and it runs entirely offline.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Order of operations - the parentheses, then powers and roots, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction precedence the calculator follows.
- NIST Digital Library of Mathematical Functions, Chapter 4: Elementary Functions - authoritative definitions for the logarithm, exponential, trigonometric, inverse-trigonometric, and hyperbolic functions.
- Wolfram MathWorld: Permutation - the nPr count of ordered arrangements.
- Wikipedia: Combination - the nCr count of unordered selections.
FAQs
It supports degrees, radians, and gradians. Use the Deg, Rad, and Grad toggle at the top of the keypad to switch modes. The current angle mode is shown on the display.
Press the x to the y key or type the caret symbol. For example, 2^10 returns 1024. Chained exponents are evaluated from right to left, so 2^2^3 is treated as 2^(2^3).
log is the common logarithm, or base 10, so log(1000) returns 3. ln is the natural logarithm, or base e, so ln(e) returns 1. For another base, use log(base, value), such as log(2, 1024).
Yes. Whole-number factorials use the standard factorial rule, so 5! returns 120. Decimal factorials use the gamma function, so 4.5! returns about 52.3428.
Use nCr(n, r) for combinations and nPr(n, r) for permutations. For example, nCr(52, 5) returns 2598960, and nPr(5, 2) returns 20.
Press EXP to add a power-of-ten exponent. For example, enter 6.022, press EXP, then enter 23 to type 6.022E23.
MS stores the current value. M+ adds the current value to memory, and M- subtracts it. MR recalls the stored value, and MC clears memory. The display shows M when memory has a stored value.
Yes. Type numbers, operators, parentheses, and function names directly. Press Enter or = to calculate, Backspace to delete one character, and Escape to clear the expression.
Results are shown to 12 significant figures. The calculator also cleans up small floating-point artifacts, so sin(180) in degree mode returns 0 and 0.1 + 0.2 returns 0.3.