On this page
Formula
( ) and functions → ^ (right to left) → × ÷ (left to right) → + − (left to right)
- ( ) and f(…)
- brackets and functions such as sin, log, sqrt are evaluated first, from the inside out
- ^
- powers, grouped from the right, so 2^3^2 = 2^9; −2^2 means −(2^2)
- ! and %
- factorial and percent apply to the number right before them
- × ÷
- multiplication and division, worked left to right; 2π and 3(4 + 1) are multiplications too
- + −
- addition and subtraction, worked left to right, last
A scientific calculator does what a basic four-function calculator can’t: it respects the order of operations and adds the functions used in algebra, trigonometry, chemistry and physics. This one works from a typed expression rather than a keypad, so you can enter a whole line such as 3*cos(60) + 2^5 at once, see the answer, and check exactly how it was read.
How to use this scientific calculator
- Type the expression. Use
+ - * /(or × and ÷),^for powers, and brackets wherever you want to force an order. Typing2^3gives 2³. - Pick the angle unit. Degrees (DEG) or radians (RAD) changes the result of sin, cos and tan and of their inverses. Nothing else is affected.
- Read the result and the working. Under the answer you’ll find the expression rewritten with a bracket around every operation, followed by each step in the order it was worked out.
If something can’t be read, the error names the problem and marks the spot with ▸ ◂, for example a bracket that never closes or a comma used as a thousands separator.
What you can type
| Type this | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
^, ², ³ |
power | 2^10 = 1,024 |
sqrt( ), √, cbrt( ), root(x, n) |
square, cube and nth roots | root(625, 4) = 5 |
sin, cos, tan, asin, acos, atan |
trigonometry and inverse trig | tan(60) = 1.73205080757 (degrees) |
sinh, cosh, tanh |
hyperbolic functions | cosh(0) = 1 |
log( ), log(x, b), ln( ), exp( ) |
logs base 10, base b and base e | log(250) = 2.39794000867 |
! |
factorial | 7! = 5,040 |
nCr(n, r), nPr(n, r) |
combinations and permutations | nCr(52, 5) = 2,598,960 |
% |
divide by 100 | 12% * 250 = 30 |
pi or π, e |
constants | 2pi = 6.28318530718 |
abs, floor, ceil, round |
rounding and absolute value | floor(-2.5) = −3 |
1.5E3 |
scientific notation | 1.5E3*2 = 3,000 |
The order of operations, by hand
Every scientific calculator, handheld or online, applies the same priority rules. Work through 5 + 3 × 2^3 − 8 ÷ 4:
- Brackets and functions first: there are none here.
- Powers next: 2³ = 8, so the line becomes 5 + 3 × 8 − 8 ÷ 4.
- Multiplication and division from left to right: 3 × 8 = 24 and 8 ÷ 4 = 2, giving 5 + 24 − 2.
- Addition and subtraction from left to right: 5 + 24 = 29, then 29 − 2 = 27.
The calculator shows this as (5 + (3 × (2 ^ 3))) − (8 ÷ 4). Two rules catch people out. A minus sign in front of a power applies after the power, so −3^2 is −9. Powers stack from the right, so 2^3^2 is 2^9 = 512, not 8² = 64. When in doubt, add brackets: they never hurt.
Degrees vs radians
A full turn is 360° or 2π radians, so 180° = π radians. Degree mode suits triangle problems and anything measured with a protractor. Radian mode suits calculus, physics formulas with ω or θ in radians, and any angle written with π. Entering a radian value in degree mode, or the other way around, is the most common reason a trig answer is “wrong”.
Exact values for the standard angles in degree mode:
| Angle | sin | cos | tan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0° | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30° | 0.5 | 0.866025403784 | 0.57735026919 |
| 45° | 0.707106781187 | 0.707106781187 | 1 |
| 60° | 0.866025403784 | 0.5 | 1.73205080757 |
| 90° | 1 | 0 | undefined |
Where a scientific calculator helps
- High school algebra and geometry: checking exponent rules, square roots and the sides of right triangles. For step-by-step roots of ax² + bx + c, use the quadratic formula calculator.
- Chemistry: logarithms for pH (pH = −log[H⁺]), scientific notation for Avogadro-sized numbers, and powers of ten in unit conversions.
- Physics: sines and cosines to split forces into components, and square roots in speed and energy formulas.
- Probability: nCr counts lottery and card combinations, and factorials count arrangements.
To see a whole function rather than a single value, plot it with the graphing calculator. For a power with every step written out, the exponent calculator goes into more detail, and the square root calculator simplifies radicals exactly.
Common mistakes
- Wrong angle mode. Check DEG or RAD before trusting any trig answer.
- Thousands separators. Type 25000, not 25,000. The comma is reserved for separating function inputs, as in nCr(10, 4).
- Missing brackets in fractions. 1/2x is (1/2) × x. For 1 ÷ (2x), type 1/(2x).
- Percent expectations. 80 + 5% here is 80.05, because % simply divides by 100. For a 5% increase, type 80*1.05, or use the percentage calculator.
- Expecting exact fractions. Results are decimals. For answers such as 7/12, use the fraction calculator.
Glossary
- Expression: a combination of numbers, operators and functions that evaluates to one value.
- Order of operations: the agreed priority of brackets, powers, multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction.
- Radian: the angle that cuts off an arc equal to the radius; 1 radian ≈ 57.2958°.
- Factorial (n!): the product 1 × 2 × … × n, with 0! = 1.
- nCr: the number of ways to choose r items from n when order doesn’t matter, n! ÷ (r!(n − r)!).
Worked examples
Trigonometry and a square root
sin is worked out first, then the power, then the multiplication, and the addition last.
Inputs: Expression = 2*sin(30)+sqrt(16)^2; Angle unit = Degrees (DEG)
Read as: (2 × sin(30)) + (√(16) ^ 2) sin(30°) = 0.5 2 × 0.5 = 1 √(16) = 4 4 ^ 2 = 16 1 + 16 = 17 Result: 17
Answer: 2sin(30) + √(16)^2 = 17 (degrees)
Logarithms
log is base 10 and ln is the natural log (base e).
Inputs: Expression = log(1000) + ln(e^2); Angle unit = Degrees (DEG)
Read as: log(1000) + ln(e ^ 2) log(1,000) = 3 2.7182818285 ^ 2 = 7.3890560989 ln(7.3890560989) = 2 3 + 2 = 5 Result: 5
Answer: log(1000) + ln(e^2) = 5
Combinations and a factorial
nCr(10, 3) counts the ways to choose 3 items from 10; 4! = 4 × 3 × 2 × 1.
Inputs: Expression = nCr(10, 3) + 4!; Angle unit = Degrees (DEG)
Read as: nCr(10, 3) + 4! nCr(10, 3) = 120 4! = 24 120 + 24 = 144 Result: 144
Answer: nCr(10, 3) + 4! = 144
Radians (edge case)
In radian mode, π/3 is the same angle as 60°.
Inputs: Expression = cos(pi/3); Angle unit = Radians (RAD)
Read as: cos(π ÷ 3) 3.1415926536 ÷ 3 = 1.0471975512 cos(1.0471975512) = 0.5 Result: 0.5
Answer: cos(π ÷ 3) = 0.5 (radians)
A percentage of a number
The % sign divides the number before it by 100.
Inputs: Expression = 15% * 80; Angle unit = Degrees (DEG)
Read as: 15% × 80 15% = 15 ÷ 100 = 0.15 0.15 × 80 = 12 Result: 12
Answer: 15% × 80 = 12
Assumptions and limitations
- The expression is read with the standard order of operations shown above. Implicit multiplication such as 2π or 3(4 + 1) has the same priority as × and ÷, so 1/2x means (1/2) × x.
- The angle unit applies to sin, cos, tan, cot, sec and csc (input) and to asin, acos and atan (output). sin, cos and tan at multiples of 30° and 90° are returned exactly (sin 30° = 0.5, cos 90° = 0).
- log means the base-10 logarithm, ln the natural logarithm (base e), and log(x, b) uses base b. e is Euler's number, about 2.718281828.
- x% is x ÷ 100. It is not "percent of the previous number", so 200 + 10% gives 200.1; write 200 × 1.1 for a 10% increase.
- Factorials accept whole numbers from 0 to 170. nCr and nPr accept whole numbers with r ≤ n ≤ 10,000.
- Results use double-precision floating point and are shown to 12 significant digits. Magnitudes from 10^15 upward or below 10^−9 are shown as m × 10^n, and values smaller than 10^−15 are shown as 0.
- Results are real numbers only. Square roots of negatives and logs of 0 or negatives return an error instead of a complex number.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use a scientific calculator online?
Type the whole expression the way you would write it, such as 3*cos(60) + 2^5, choose degrees or radians, and read the result. The calculator also prints the expression with brackets added, so you can check it was read the way you meant.
Should I use degrees or radians?
Use degrees when angles are given with a ° sign, as in most geometry, surveying and physics homework. Use radians in calculus, when angles contain π, or when a formula comes from a textbook that works in radians. sin(1) is 0.017452 in degrees but 0.841471 in radians, so the setting matters.
Why does −3^2 give −9 and not 9?
Powers come before the minus sign in the standard order of operations, so −3^2 means −(3^2) = −9. To square negative 3, type (−3)^2, which gives 9.
What is the difference between log and ln?
log is the common logarithm, base 10, so log(10,000) = 4. ln is the natural logarithm, base e ≈ 2.71828, used in growth, decay and calculus. For any other base, type log(x, b), for example log(81, 3) = 4.
How do I enter scientific notation?
Type a capital E between the number and the power of ten, as in 6.02E23 or 4.1E-5, or write it out as 6.02*10^23. A lowercase e on its own is Euler's number, so 2e means 2 × 2.71828.
How do you calculate fractions on a scientific calculator?
Type the fraction with a division sign and brackets, such as (3/4) + (5/6). The answer comes out as a decimal. For an exact fraction answer, use the fraction calculator instead.
What is the difference between a scientific calculator and a basic calculator?
A basic calculator handles the four operations and percentages, often applying each key as you press it. A scientific calculator follows the full order of operations and adds powers, roots, trig, logarithms, factorials and combinations, which is what algebra, chemistry and physics courses need.
Sources
- 2.1 Use the Language of Algebra — Prealgebra 2e — OpenStax, Rice University. Checked October 10, 2026.
- Precedence — Wolfram MathWorld. Checked October 10, 2026.
- Chapter 4: Elementary Functions — NIST Digital Library of Mathematical Functions — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Checked October 10, 2026.
- 5.1 Angles — Precalculus 2e — OpenStax, Rice University. Checked October 10, 2026.