Scientific Calculator
History (click to reuse)
What this scientific calculator does
This is a full scientific calculator that runs in your browser: trigonometry in degrees or radians, natural and base-10 logarithms, powers and roots, factorials, permutations and combinations, constants π and e, a memory register and a clickable history. You can tap the keys or simply type an expression such as 2^10 + sin(30) and the result updates as you type. Nothing is sent to a server, so it also works offline once the page has loaded.
Unlike a basic four-function calculator, it respects the mathematical order of operations. 2 + 3 × 4 gives 14, not 20, and -2^2 gives −4, exactly as a textbook or a TI-30 would. Parentheses can be nested as deeply as you need.
How to use it
- Pick DEG or RAD at the top. Degrees is the default and is right for most school and everyday problems; switch to radians for calculus and physics formulas that use π directly.
- Enter the expression with the keypad or the keyboard. Functions open a parenthesis for you: pressing sin inserts
sin(, so you type the angle and close the bracket. - Read the live result under the input. It updates on every keystroke; an ellipsis means a bracket is still open, “Error” means the expression cannot be parsed yet.
- Press = or Enter to commit. The result becomes ANS, is added to the history and replaces the input so you can keep calculating on it.
- Use 2nd for the inverse functions: sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹, eˣ, 10ˣ, x³, ʸ√x, ³√, |x|, mod and the hyperbolic functions.
Function reference
| Key or syntax | Meaning | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
+ − × ÷ (or * /) | Basic arithmetic, standard precedence | 2 + 3 × 4 | 14 |
^ or xʸ | Power, right-associative | 2^3^2 | 512 |
| x², x³ | Square and cube | 7^2 | 49 |
| √, ³√, ʸ√x | Square, cube and n-th root | 4^(1/2) | 2 |
| sin, cos, tan | Trigonometric functions in the selected unit | sin(30) in DEG | 0.5 |
| sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹ | Inverse trig (2nd key), result in the selected unit | asin(1) in DEG | 90 |
| sinh, cosh, tanh | Hyperbolic functions (2nd key on EXP, comma, 1/x) | tanh(1) | 0.761594155956 |
| ln, log | Natural log (base e) and common log (base 10) | log(1000) | 3 |
| eˣ, 10ˣ | Antilogarithms (2nd key) | exp(2) | 7.38905609893 |
| n! | Factorial; non-integers use the gamma function | 5! | 120 |
nCr(n,r), nPr(n,r) | Combinations and permutations (type them) | nCr(5,2) | 10 |
mod(a,b) | Remainder after division | mod(7,3) | 1 |
% | Percent: divides the preceding value by 100 | 100 × (1 + 5%) | 105 |
| π, e | Constants 3.14159… and 2.71828… | 2π | 6.28318530718 |
| EXP | Power-of-ten exponent inside a number | 1.5E3 | 1500 |
| ANS, MR | Last committed result; memory register | ANS × 2 | twice the last result |
| 1/x, ± | Reciprocal and sign change | 1/(8) | 0.125 |
Implicit multiplication is understood: 3(4+1), 2π and 2sin(30) all work without a × sign.
Degrees or radians?
The single most common scientific-calculator mistake is the angle unit. sin(30) is 0.5 in degrees but −0.988 in radians, because 30 radians is about 1,719°. Use DEG when the problem states angles in degrees (geometry, surveying, most homework). Use RAD when the formula contains π, when you differentiate or integrate trig functions, or in physics with angular velocity in rad/s. The setting also applies to the inverse functions: in DEG, atan(1) returns 45; in RAD it returns 0.7853981634, which is π/4.
Order of operations and parentheses
The calculator evaluates in this order: parentheses and function arguments first, then postfix operators (factorial, percent), then powers from right to left, then unary minus, then multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction. Two consequences catch people out:
-2^2is −4. The square is taken first, then the sign. Write(-2)^2for 4.2^3^2is 2⁹ = 512, not 8² = 64, because exponent towers are evaluated from the top down. Write(2^3)^2if you mean 64.
When a result looks wrong, add parentheses around each part you want grouped. Extra parentheses never change a correct expression.
Worked examples
1. Hypotenuse of a right triangle
Legs of 5 and 12: type sqrt(5^2 + 12^2). Result: 13.
2. Compound growth
$2,000 at 6% per year for 10 years: 2000 × (1 + 6%)^10. Result: 3581.70 (3581.69567…). The % key turns 6% into 0.06 automatically.
3. Angle from a slope
A ramp rises 1 m over 8 m of run. In DEG mode, atan(1/8) gives 7.125°. Switch to RAD and the same input gives 0.1244 rad.
4. Lottery odds
Choosing 6 numbers from 49: nCr(49,6) = 13,983,816, so the odds of one ticket matching are 1 in about 14 million.
5. pH from hydrogen-ion concentration
For [H⁺] = 3.2 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L: -log(3.2E-5) = 4.49.
Keyboard shortcuts
- Enter calculates and stores the result as ANS; Esc clears everything.
- Type
*and/for multiply and divide,^for powers,pifor π. - Function names can be typed directly:
sqrt(,asin(,ln(,nCr(,mod(,abs(. - Click any line in the history to load it back into the input and edit it.
Accuracy and limits
Calculations use IEEE 754 double precision, the same as every scientific calculator app and spreadsheet: about 15–16 significant digits internally, displayed to 12. Results are rounded for display, so 0.1 + 0.2 correctly shows 0.3. Factorials above 170! overflow to ∞, and very large or very small results switch to exponent notation such as 1.2e+21. Division by zero shows ∞ rather than an error, matching the mathematical limit, and the square root or logarithm of a negative number shows “Undefined” because this calculator works with real numbers only. For complex roots use the quadratic equation solver, which handles a negative discriminant.
Frequently asked questions
Is this scientific calculator free and does it need an account?
Yes. It is free, there is no sign-up, and it runs entirely in your browser. Once the page has loaded it keeps working without an internet connection.
Why does sin(30) give −0.988 instead of 0.5?
The calculator is in radian mode. Press DEG at the top and sin(30) returns 0.5. The angle unit applies to sin, cos, tan and their inverses.
How do I enter a fraction?
Type it with a slash and parentheses: (3/4) + (1/8) gives 0.875. To turn a decimal back into a fraction, use the fraction to decimal converter.
How do I calculate a root other than square or cube?
Raise to a fractional power: the 5th root of 32 is 32^(1/5) = 2. With the 2nd key, the xʸ button becomes ʸ√x and inserts ^(1/ for you.
Does it handle scientific notation?
Yes. Type the exponent with E: 6.02E23 is Avogadro’s number and 3.2E-5 is 0.000032. Very large or small results are displayed the same way.
Can I use it on a phone?
Yes. The keypad is sized for touch, and the expression field accepts the phone keyboard as well. History and memory are kept while the page is open.