Scientific Calculator
Free online scientific calculator for evaluating arithmetic, trigonometric, logarithmic, exponential, root, power and factorial expressions.
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Scientific Calculator Quick Answer
This is a free browser scientific calculator for mixed numeric expressions: arithmetic, sin/cos/tan, inverse trig, log and ln, powers, roots, factorials, percent, and constants. Students, physics homework, and engineering checks can type or tap, switch DEG/RAD/GRAD, and get a result without creating an account. Evaluation runs on your device — expressions are not uploaded for calculation.
What Can This Scientific Calculator Calculate?
It evaluates a full expression, not one isolated function. You can mix arithmetic with trigonometry, inverse trig, hyperbolic functions, logarithms, natural logs, powers, square roots, cube roots, nth roots, factorials, absolute value, reciprocal, percent, and the constants π and e. Scientific and engineering notation are display options. Memory (MC, MR, M+, M−) and a local history list cover repeat work. If a real operation produces a complex value (for example sqrt(−1) = i), it is shown as a+bi — this is not a dedicated complex-number workspace.
Fractions such as 1/2+1/3 are valid input; simple rational results also show a fraction label. For mixed-number simplifying or exact-only fraction arithmetic, use the Fraction Calculator. Custom log bases belong on the Logarithm Calculator.
How to Use the Scientific Calculator
- Set DEG, RAD, or GRAD before circular trig.
- Type in the display or tap keys. Use 2nd for inverse trig, 10ˣ, eˣ, ∛, and nthRoot.
- Press = or Enter. Live preview updates while you type unless you turn it off.
- Open Calculation breakdown to see the numeric evaluation order.
- Copy the result, copy the expression, or copy a share link that restores the expression and mode.
- Tap History to reuse a previous line, or use MR after M+ / M−.
Degrees vs Radians vs Gradians
A full circle is 360 degrees, 2π radians, or 400 gradians (gon). This calculator converts circular trig to match the button you selected. Hyperbolic functions (sinh, cosh, tanh) ignore angle mode — they are not circular.
- DEG — geometry, navigation, most high-school trig. sin(30) = 0.5.
- RAD — calculus, physics angular velocity, and almost every programming math library. sin(π/2) = 1.
- GRAD — 100 gon in a right angle. Some surveying instruments still use it. sin(100) in GRAD = 1.
Inverse functions return the same unit: asin(0.5) is 30 in DEG, π/6 in RAD, and 100/3 gon in GRAD. If a result looks like a wrong trig identity, check the mode first.
Scientific Calculator Examples
These are the same identities a handheld scientific calculator is expected to get right. Enter them on the pad above.
| Expression | Result |
|---|---|
| sin(30) in DEG | 0.5 |
| cos(60) in DEG | 0.5 |
| tan(45) in DEG | 1 |
| log(1000) | 3 |
| ln(e) | 1 |
| sqrt(144) | 12 |
| 2^8 | 256 |
| 5! | 120 |
| 1/2 + 1/3 | 5/6 |
| 2 + 3 × 4² | 50 |
Percentage on this pad is mathematical, not phone-style add-on: 200 × 15% is 30. For increase, discount, or “what percent of,” use the Percentage Calculator. Dedicated powers and missing-exponent problems belong on the Exponent Calculator; standalone roots on the Square Root Calculator.
Scientific Calculator Functions Reference
| Function | Example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| sin | sin(30) DEG = 0.5 | Sine of an angle in the active unit |
| cos | cos(60) DEG = 0.5 | Cosine |
| tan | tan(45) DEG = 1 | Tangent |
| asin | asin(0.5) DEG = 30 | Inverse sine |
| acos | acos(0.5) DEG = 60 | Inverse cosine |
| atan | atan(1) DEG = 45 | Inverse tangent |
| sinh | sinh(0) = 0 | Hyperbolic sine (not angle-mode dependent) |
| cosh | cosh(0) = 1 | Hyperbolic cosine |
| tanh | tanh(0) = 0 | Hyperbolic tangent |
| log | log(1000) = 3 | Base-10 logarithm |
| ln | ln(e) = 1 | Natural logarithm |
| sqrt | sqrt(144) = 12 | Square root |
| cbrt | cbrt(8) = 2 | Cube root |
| x² | 7^2 = 49 | Square |
| x^y | 2^8 = 256 | Arbitrary power |
| factorial | 5! = 120 | n × (n−1) × … × 1 |
| absolute | abs(-4) = 4 | Absolute value |
| 1/x | 1/8 = 0.125 | Reciprocal |
| π | sin(pi/2) RAD = 1 | Pi |
| e | exp(1) or e | Euler's number |
| percent | 200 × 15% = 30 | n% means n/100 |
How Scientific Calculator Results Are Calculated
Input is parsed as a math expression. It is never run as JavaScript (eval is not used). Functions such as sin and log are applied to their arguments after those arguments are evaluated. Operator precedence is parentheses, then exponents, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right. That is why 2 + 3 × 4 = 14 and (2 + 3) × 4 = 20.
In DEG or GRAD, sin/cos/tan wrap the argument in the matching angular unit before the radian-based implementation runs. Inverse trig converts the radian result back to degrees or gradians. RAD leaves values unchanged.
Numbers are IEEE 754 binary64 (the same family as most calculators and JavaScript). Internally that is about 15 significant decimal digits. The display rounds obvious binary dust so sin(30) shows as 0.5 instead of 0.49999999999999994. That is presentation, not extra accuracy. Do not treat the last displayed digit of a messy transcendental as gospel.
Common Scientific Calculator Mistakes
- Wrong angle mode. sin(90) is 1 in DEG and about 0.894 in RAD. If a physics problem is in radians, DEG will silently give the wrong number.
- Missing parentheses. Functions need them:
sin(30), not a juxtaposition that the parser cannot see. - log vs ln. log(e) is not 1. ln(e) is 1. log(10) is 1.
- Malformed input. Unbalanced parentheses, log of 0 or a negative real, and division by zero return an error string. The page should not crash.
- Expecting a CAS. This will not isolate x, expand polynomials, or produce textbook algebra steps. The breakdown is numeric evaluation order only.
- Precision myths. Repeating decimals and most irrationals are truncated. 1/6 is stored as a double, then displayed.
Scientific Calculator Use Cases
Students use it to check homework identities: right-triangle trig, logarithm laws, and exponent arithmetic. Physics and engineering checks often mix sin or log with a power in one line. Chemistry problems that need −log of a concentration are ordinary log evaluations. None of that requires an app install or an account.
Combinatorics that need huge exact integers should move to the Factorial Calculator, Combination Calculator, or Permutation Calculator. Dataset spread belongs on the Standard Deviation Calculator or Average Calculator. Four-function-only work is faster on the Basic Calculator.
Scientific Calculator FAQ
- What is a scientific calculator?
- A scientific calculator evaluates numeric expressions that go beyond +, −, ×, and ÷: trigonometry, logarithms, exponents, roots, factorials, percent, and constants such as π and e, using standard operator precedence.
- Can I use this scientific calculator online for free?
- Yes. It runs in your browser with no signup, no download, and no calculation upload. You can use the keypad or your keyboard immediately.
- Does it work in degrees and radians?
- Yes. Switch DEG, RAD, or GRAD. Circular functions (sin, cos, tan and inverses) follow the selected unit. Hyperbolic functions are not angle-mode dependent.
- How do I calculate sin, cos and tan?
- Set DEG for degree problems, then enter sin(30), cos(60), or tan(45). Those evaluate to 0.5, 0.5, and 1. For a radian problem such as sin(π/2), switch to RAD first.
- What is the difference between log and ln?
- On this calculator log is log₁₀ (common log) and ln is logₑ (natural log). log(1000) = 3 and ln(e) = 1. For a custom base, use the Logarithm Calculator.
- Can I enter fractions?
- Yes. Type 1/2+1/3 to get 5/6 (shown as a decimal with a fraction label when the value is a simple rational). For mixed numbers, simplifying, or exact fraction-only workflows, use the Fraction Calculator.
- Does it support factorials?
- Yes. Use n! or type 5! for 120. Large integer factorials that must stay exact belong on the Factorial Calculator.
- Can I use my keyboard?
- Yes. Type into the display, use arrow keys to move the cursor, Enter to calculate, Escape to clear, and Backspace to delete. Keypad buttons insert at the cursor.
- Does it keep calculation history?
- Yes. Completed calculations appear in History on this device. Tap a row to reload it. Clear history when you want it gone. History is not stored on EverydayTools servers.
- Is this scientific calculator private?
- Yes. Expressions are evaluated locally with math.js in the browser. Sharing a link only puts the expression in the page URL on your device until you choose to send that URL.
- Does it support scientific notation?
- Yes. Use EE or E in an expression (1.5E6) and cycle NORM / SCI / ENG on the result. SCI is standard scientific notation; ENG keeps the exponent as a multiple of three.
- Can I use it on my phone?
- Yes. The keypad stays compact on small screens. Open Advanced only when you need hyperbolic functions. Buttons are sized for thumbs; long expressions scroll horizontally in the display.
- Does it support inverse trigonometric functions?
- Yes. Tap 2nd for sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, and tan⁻¹ (asin, acos, atan). In DEG mode, asin(0.5) = 30, acos(0.5) = 60, and atan(1) = 45.
- What is the difference between a scientific and basic calculator?
- A basic calculator is +, −, ×, ÷ (and often phone-style percent). A scientific calculator adds functions, exponents, roots, and an angle mode. EverydayTools keeps a separate Basic Calculator for four-function work.
- Can this calculator show calculation steps?
- Yes — a numeric calculation breakdown, not symbolic algebra. For 2 + 3 × 4² it shows 4² = 16, then 3 × 16 = 48, then 2 + 48 = 50. It will not solve for x or show algebraic proofs.