Formula
The exponent is the place of the first digit. The coefficient holds the significant digits:
Number = coefficient × 10 ^ exponent
Zero is shown as 0 × 10^0.
Assumptions
- The number is finite.
- The coefficient is normalized except for zero.
Worked example
1,234,500 in scientific notation is 1.2345 × 10^6.
Input definitions
- Number
- The ordinary number to rewrite.
Limitations
The coefficient is rounded to four decimal places for display.
Questions
What about a number smaller than 1?
The exponent is negative. For example, 0.0042 moves the point three places.
Is this the same as an exponent calculation?
No. The exponent page raises a base you choose. This page only splits a number into scientific notation.