Apply the examples with Scientific Notation Calculator. Check the worked steps below, then practice on your own.
What E or e means on a calculator
The letter E in a numerical display is short for exponent in scientific notation. It is not Euler’s number when used in displays such as 3.2E+4. Here, 3.2E+4 means 3.2 multiplied by ten to the fourth power.
The value is 32,000. Uppercase E and lowercase e are commonly used for the same calculator display format.
Read powers of ten aloud
| Display | Say it | Ordinary number |
|---|---|---|
| 2e3 | Two times ten to the third power | 2,000 |
| 4.5e-2 | Four point five times ten to the minus second power | 0.045 |
| 1e-9 | One times ten to the minus ninth power | 0.000000001 |
| 6.02e5 | Six point zero two times ten to the fifth power | 602,000 |
Positive exponents: large numbers
With a positive exponent, multiply by a power of ten. In 7.8 × 10⁴, move the decimal point four places right to get 78,000.
If the coefficient has fewer digits, add zeros as needed. For example, 2.1 × 10⁶ = 2,100,000.
Negative exponents: small numbers
A negative exponent means divide by a power of ten, not make the number negative. In 3.4 × 10⁻³, move the decimal point three places left to get 0.0034.
The result of 1e-9 is positive but very small. By contrast, −1e-9 would be a negative small number; the minus sign before the coefficient is different from the exponent sign.
Scientific notation, rounding and calculator limits
Scientific notation is useful when a result has too many digits for a display, such as a very large number or a tiny measurement. It communicates magnitude compactly, but the number of significant figures still determines how precisely the value is reported.
For example, 1.20e3 has three significant figures and represents 1,200; a display of 1.2e3 has two significant figures.
Practice conversions
- 8.1e2 = 810.
- 5.6e-4 = 0.00056.
- 0.000007 = 7e-6.
- 9,300,000 = 9.3e6.
Enter the values into the Scientific Notation Calculator to check the conversion. Remember that a shorter screen display does not make the underlying value less meaningful.
Frequently asked questions
Is e-9 the same as negative nine?
No. e-9 means multiplication by 10 to the power of −9.
What does 1e-9 equal?
0.000000001, or one billionth.
What is the difference between E and EXP?
On many calculators both relate to entering powers of ten, though specific key behavior varies by calculator model.
Open the Scientific Notation Calculator, then explore Big Number Calculator for more practice.