Scientific Calculator – Free Online Sci Calculator for Advanced Math
Trig, logarithms, powers, roots, factorial, combinations, memory & history — in your browser
Keyboard: numbers, +−*/^(), Enter=Evaluate, Backspace=Delete, Escape=Clear
How to Use This Scientific Calculator
- Set angle mode. Click the DEG badge (turns violet for RAD) before entering trig functions. Degrees are standard for most geometry and physics problems; radians for calculus.
- Build your expression. Click function buttons — each one opens a function with its parenthesis: sin(, log(, √(. Add your argument, close the bracket with ), then press =.
- Use the number pad. The right side holds digits and operators. The ÷ and × keys map to JavaScript's / and * internally.
- Chain with ANS. After each result, press ANS to insert the previous answer into a new expression — great for multi-step calculations.
- Store values in memory. Press M+ to add the current result to memory. Press MR to recall it at any time. The M indicator lights up when memory is non-zero.
- Review history. Click "History" to see your last 20 calculations. Tap any entry to paste its value back into the display.
Worked Examples
Example 1 – Trigonometry: finding a side
A ladder leans against a wall at 65° to the ground. The ladder is 4 m long. How high up the wall does it reach?
Keystrokes (DEG mode):
4 × sin( 65 ) =Result: 4 × sin(65°) = 4 × 0.9063 ≈ 3.625 m
Example 2 – Logarithm: doubling time
How many years until an investment doubles at 6% annual interest (compound annually)?
Keystrokes:
log( 2 ) ÷ log( 1.06 ) =Result: ≈ 11.9 years
Example 3 – Combinations: lottery odds
A lottery draws 6 numbers from 49. How many possible tickets are there?
Keystrokes:
nCr( 49 , 6 ) =Result: 13,983,816 possible combinations
Example 4 – Powers and roots
The diagonal of a rectangle with sides 7 cm and 24 cm:
Keystrokes:
√( 7 x² + 24 x² ) =Result: √(49 + 576) = √625 = 25 cm
Example 5 – Scientific notation
Divide the speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s) by the frequency of a radio wave (1.5 × 10⁸ Hz) to find wavelength:
3 EXP 8 ÷ 1.5 EXP 8 =Result: 2 m
Understanding Key Functions
Trigonometric functions
Sine, cosine, and tangent relate the angles of a right triangle to its side lengths. Their inverses (sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹) find the angle given a ratio. Always verify your mode matches the problem:
Logarithms
log(x) is the base-10 logarithm — the power to which 10 must be raised to get x. ln(x) is the natural logarithm, base e ≈ 2.71828. Use log for pH, decibels, and Richter scale; use ln for growth/decay and calculus.
Powers and roots
The xʸ button inserts the ^ operator. For cube roots and higher use ∛ or ʸ√(n,x) where n is the root degree. The relationship: ⁿ√x = x^(1/n).
Factorial, nCr, nPr
Factorials grow extremely fast — 20! exceeds 2 × 10¹⁸. Combinations nCr count unordered selections; permutations nPr count ordered ones.
Scientific notation with EXP
The EXP button enters "×10^". To input 6.022 × 10²³ (Avogadro's number): press 6.022 then
EXP then 23. On the keyboard, press e or E as the exponent
separator.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wrong angle mode. sin(90) in RAD = 0.894 (not 1). Always check DEG vs RAD first.
- Missing parentheses. sin 45 × 2 is ambiguous — type sin(45) × 2 to be explicit.
- Log of zero or negatives. log(0) and ln(−1) are undefined; the calculator returns Error.
- Factorial overflow. n! is only computed for n ≤ 170; beyond that, the result exceeds JavaScript's maximum number.
- Confusing log and ln. log = base 10, ln = base e. Many science formulas use ln; many engineering formulas use log.
- Order of operations. 2+3×4 = 14 (not 20). Use parentheses to override: (2+3)×4 = 20.
Frequently Asked Questions
2^10 and press Enter.3.2e6 and press Enter.Related Calculators
