Scientific notation converter with significant figures
Rewrite a large or small number in scientific and engineering notation, and check the significant-figure count implied by your input.
Runs in your browser — your input is not uploaded to ToolsNow.
Plain decimal or existing scientific notation, e.g. 1234.5 or 1.2345e3
Significant figures are counted as typed. Trailing zeros in a whole number without a decimal point are treated as not significant. Use e notation, such as 1.200e3, to make them explicit.
How to use
- Enter a decimal or use e notation. Type 0.00042 or 4.2e-4. Use e for the power of ten rather than pasting a multiplication sign and superscript.
- Compare the forms. 0.00042 becomes 4.2 × 10⁻⁴ in scientific notation and 420 × 10⁻⁶ in engineering notation.
- Keep meaningful zeros in the input. Type 1.200e3 to indicate four significant figures. The result’s numeric display may drop trailing zeros, so read the separate count.
Questions
How is engineering notation different?
Its exponent is a multiple of three, which aligns with prefixes such as kilo, milli and micro. For example, 12345 is 1.2345 × 10⁴ in scientific notation and 12.345 × 10³ in engineering notation.
Which zeros count as significant?
For non-zero inputs, leading zeros do not count, zeros between other significant digits do, and trailing zeros after a decimal point do. This tool treats trailing zeros in a whole number without a decimal point as ambiguous and leaves them out: 1200 counts as two, while 1.200e3 counts as four.
Does this preserve every digit of a measurement?
No. The count describes the input notation; it does not verify measurement accuracy. Converted values use floating-point arithmetic and are rounded for display. Very large or small results may still appear in e notation in the “Plain decimal” field.
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