Quick answer
The calculator evaluates expressions with the standard order of operations: brackets, functions, factorial and percent, powers (right to left), unary minus, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. 2+3*4 equals 14.
Type an expression and choose degrees or radians. The result appears when you press calculate.
Related tools: Scientific Notation Calculator: Convert a number to scientific notation. Random Number Generator: Random integers in a range, optionally repeatable with a seed. Roman Numeral Converter: Convert between numbers and Roman numerals (1–3999).
How to use the Scientific Calculator
- Type expression, for example sin(30) + 2^3.
- Choose angle mode: Degrees and Radians.
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Expression | Text, such as sin(30) + 2^3 | — |
| Angle mode | Choose one: Degrees; Radians | Starts at Degrees |
Formula and method
Formula
Precedence: parentheses, functions, ! and %, ^ (right-associative), unary minus, × ÷, + −
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places.
A recursive-descent parser (no use of eval). Functions: sin cos tan asin acos atan sqrt cbrt ln log (base 10) log2 abs exp floor ceil round; constants pi and e. −2^2 evaluates as −(2²) = −4.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Expression = 2+3*4; Angle mode = Degrees.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Result | 14 |
Example 2
Inputs: Expression = (2+3)*4; Angle mode = Degrees.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Result | 20 |
Example 3
Inputs: Expression = 2^3^2; Angle mode = Degrees.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Result | 512 |
The first line is the headline result (result). IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places.
Order of operations
Powers are evaluated right to left, so 2^3^2 is 2^(3^2) = 512, not (2^3)^2 = 64. Multiplication and division share a level and go left to right. Brackets override everything.
Where this estimate stops applying
Division by zero and results that are not finite are rejected with a message instead of showing Infinity or NaN. Expressions are limited to 200 characters, and trigonometric functions use the angle mode you choose.
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Expression: entering "1/0" shows "Division by zero." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Scientific Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [Scientific Notation Calculator](/math/scientific-notation-calculator/) | number | Scientific notation |
| [Random Number Generator](/math/random-number-generator/) | minimum, maximum and how many | Random numbers |
| [Roman Numeral Converter](/math/roman-numeral-converter/) | convert and value | Roman numeral |
| [Prime Number Calculator](/math/prime-number-calculator/) | number | Result |
| [Fibonacci Sequence Calculator](/math/fibonacci-sequence-calculator/) | position n | F(10) |
Assumptions and limitations
- Division by zero and non-finite results are rejected
- Expression length limited to 200 characters
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for expression to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
Does it do trigonometry in degrees?
Yes, pick Degrees or Radians.
How do I enter a percentage?
Type the number followed by %, for example 50%, which is read as 0.5.
Why is -2^2 negative?
Exponentiation binds tighter than the unary minus, so it is -(2^2) = -4.
What does the Scientific Calculator calculate?
Evaluate expressions with functions, constants, powers and factorials. It returns Result.
What formula does the Scientific Calculator use?
Precedence: parentheses, functions, ! and %, ^ (right-associative), unary minus, × ÷, + −. A recursive-descent parser (no use of eval).
What do I need to enter in the scientific Calculator?
You enter Expression and Angle mode.
How is the result rounded or limited?
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places. Division by zero and non-finite results are rejected.
What are the limits of this calculator?
Division by zero and non-finite results are rejected. Expression length limited to 200 characters.
What does the “Angle mode” option change?
It sets how the scientific is worked out. The choices are Degrees and Radians.
What is an example of a scientific result?
With expression 2+3*4 and angle mode Degrees, the result is 14.
Related calculators
- Scientific Notation Calculator — Convert a number to scientific notation.
- Random Number Generator — Random integers in a range, optionally repeatable with a seed.
- Roman Numeral Converter — Convert between numbers and Roman numerals (1–3999).
- Prime Number Calculator — Check whether a number is prime and find the next prime.
- Fibonacci Sequence Calculator — The nth Fibonacci number and the sequence leading to it.
- Factorial Calculator — n! computed exactly.
Sources
- OpenStax, University Physics Volume 1 (Rice University): mechanics
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.