Same number, every notation
Scientific / E-Notation Converter
Convert between decimal, scientific, E-notation, and engineering notation. The significant-figure count is preserved through every form and stated on the result — or set your own.
Significant figures
4 significant figures are preserved across every notation.
Scientific, E, and engineering notation
Scientific notation writes a number as a coefficient between 1 and 10 times a power of ten, for example 6.022 × 10^23. E-notation is the same value typed for calculators and code, where "e" replaces "× 10^": 6.022e23. Engineering notation keeps the exponent to a multiple of three so the coefficient stays between 1 and 1000, which lines up with SI prefixes such as kilo, mega, milli, and micro.
This converter accepts any of these forms, plus plain decimals and superscript exponents like 6.022×10²³. It reports the same value in every notation without sending the number through a binary float, so long coefficients and large exponents stay exact.
How significant figures are preserved
Changing notation never changes how many significant figures a value has. 0.00456 and 4.56 × 10^-3 both have three. The coefficient carries the significant digits and the power of ten only moves the decimal point, so the count is identical in decimal, scientific, E, and engineering forms. This converter states that count on every result.
Set the significant figures control to re-express a value to a chosen precision. Increasing it appends zeros inside the coefficient, for example 1.2 to four figures becomes 1.200 × 10^0. Decreasing it rounds using the selected method.
Why scientific notation removes ambiguity
A plain integer such as 1200 hides its precision: the trailing zeros may or may not be significant. Scientific notation makes the choice explicit. 1.2 × 10^3 states two significant figures, 1.20 × 10^3 states three, and 1.200 × 10^3 states four. When you enter an ambiguous integer, the converter lists these readings so you can pick the one you mean.
Worked examples
0.00456 becomes 4.56e-3 (three significant figures). The leading zeros only place the decimal point.
6.022 × 10^23 is 6.022e23 in E-notation and 602.2 × 10^21 in engineering notation.
96500 is read as three significant figures, 9.65 × 10^4, and as engineering notation 96.5 × 10^3.
1.5e-8 expands to 0.000000015 and to engineering 15 × 10^-9 (15 nano-units).
Related tools
Use the Significant Figures Calculator for arithmetic with rule attribution, the Sig Fig Counter to see which digits count, or the Round to N Significant Figures tool to control precision before converting.
Method and limits
The server parses the coefficient and exponent as strings and formats each notation with integer operations. The browser uses the shared exact BigInt-rational engine. Inputs are limited to one numeric literal, 1,000 mantissa digits, and an exponent from -1,000 to 1,000. Automated fixtures compare the server output with the browser engine before deployment.
Changelog
- Initial release with decimal, scientific, E, and engineering notation, flexible input parsing, significant-figure preservation, and full server rendering.