Scientific Calculator
Full-featured scientific calculator with trigonometric functions, logarithms, powers, roots, and memory — all computed in your browser.
Quick Reference
sin(30°) = 0.5
Set DEG mode → enter 30 → press sin
log(1000) = 3
Enter 1000 → press log
√144 = 12
Enter 144 → press √x
2^10 = 1024
Enter 2 → press xʸ → enter 10 → press =
5! = 120
Enter 5 → press n!
Memory Keys
What is a Scientific Calculator?
A scientific calculator extends the basic four arithmetic operations to include trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan and their inverses), logarithms (log base 10, natural log, and log base 2), exponential functions (e^x, 10^x), powers (x², x³, xʸ), roots (square root, cube root), factorials (n!), and more. They are essential in science, engineering, mathematics, and finance for any calculation that goes beyond simple arithmetic.
This calculator operates in either Degrees or Radians mode for trigonometric functions, supports memory storage (MC, MR, M+, M−), and handles negative numbers, reciprocals (1/x), absolute values, and percentage calculations. All computation happens instantly in your browser — no data is sent anywhere.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter numbers by clicking the digit buttons or typing on your keyboard. Apply
functions like sin,
log, or
√x
immediately after entering a number — they compute instantly. For chained operations
like 3 + 4 × 2, press the operator after each number and hit = to evaluate.
Use the DEG/RAD toggle before any trigonometric calculation.
Trigonometric Functions: Sin, Cos, Tan
The three primary trigonometric functions relate the angles of a right triangle to the ratios of its sides. For an angle θ opposite side a, adjacent side b, and hypotenuse c:
- sin(θ) = opposite / hypotenuse = a / c
- cos(θ) = adjacent / hypotenuse = b / c
- tan(θ) = opposite / adjacent = a / b = sin/cos
The inverse functions (sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹, also written arcsin, arccos, arctan) take a ratio as input and return the angle. They are used to find unknown angles when the side lengths are known. Remember: sin and cos always return values between −1 and 1; tan can return any real number.
Logarithms: log, ln, and log₂
A logarithm answers the question "to what power must the base be raised to get this number?" Three bases are universally important:
- log (base 10) — the common logarithm. log(1000) = 3 because 10³ = 1000. Used in science (pH, decibels, Richter scale).
- ln (natural log) — base e ≈ 2.71828. ln(e²) = 2. Appears everywhere in calculus, growth/decay, and finance (continuously compounded interest).
- log₂ (binary log) — base 2. log₂(64) = 6. Essential in computer science (bits, algorithms, data structures).
Key identity: log_b(x) = ln(x) / ln(b), so any logarithm can be computed from the natural log. For example, log₂(x) = ln(x) / ln(2) ≈ ln(x) / 0.6931.
Using Powers and Roots
Powers and roots are inverse operations. The calculator provides:
- x² — squares the current value (x × x).
- x³ — cubes the current value (x × x × x).
- xʸ — raises x to an arbitrary power y. Enter x, press xʸ, enter y, press =.
- √x — square root. √9 = 3.
- ∛x — cube root. ∛27 = 3.
- 10ˣ — 10 raised to the displayed power. 10² = 100, 10³ = 1000.
- eˣ — e raised to the displayed power. e¹ ≈ 2.71828, e² ≈ 7.38906.
Note that √x of a negative number is undefined in real numbers (the result would be imaginary). The calculator will display "Error" in that case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DEG and RAD mode?
DEG (degrees) and RAD (radians) are two ways to measure angles. A full circle is 360° in degrees or 2π radians (≈ 6.2832 rad). To convert: radians = degrees × π / 180, and degrees = radians × 180 / π. Always check which mode you are in before computing trig functions. A common mistake is computing sin(90) in RAD mode — that gives sin(90 radians) ≈ 0.8940, not the expected 1. In DEG mode, sin(90°) = 1 correctly. Scientists and engineers often work in radians because many formulas and calculus derivations are simpler in radians.
How do I calculate sin of 30 degrees?
First, confirm that DEG mode is selected (click the DEG button — it should appear highlighted). Then enter 30 using the number buttons, and click sin. The display will immediately show 0.5, which is the exact value of sin(30°). If you accidentally had RAD selected, you would get approximately 0.9880 instead, which is sin(30 radians).
What is ln vs log?
log on this calculator (and most scientific calculators) means the base-10 logarithm: log(100) = 2 because 10² = 100. ln is the natural logarithm, base e ≈ 2.71828: ln(e) = 1, ln(e²) = 2. In higher mathematics and science, "log" often implicitly means the natural log (especially in calculus), so always check context. For base conversion: log₁₀(x) = ln(x) / ln(10) ≈ ln(x) / 2.3026. Practically, log base 10 is used for orders of magnitude (pH, decibels), while ln appears in compound interest (A = Pe^(rt)), radioactive decay, and probability/statistics.
How does the memory work (MC, MR, MS, M+, M−)?
The memory functions let you store and recall a single value across multiple calculations: MS (Memory Store) saves the current display to memory; MR (Memory Recall) brings that stored value back to the display; MC (Memory Clear) wipes the stored value; M+ adds the current display to the stored value; M− subtracts the current display from the stored value. When memory holds a nonzero value, the "M" indicator lights up near the display. Example: calculate 45 × 3 = 135, press MS, then compute 200 − MR to get 200 − 135 = 65 without re-entering 135.
What does n! (factorial) mean?
The factorial of a non-negative integer n, written n!, is the product of all positive integers up to n. For example: 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120. By definition, 0! = 1. Factorials grow extremely fast: 10! = 3,628,800 and 20! ≈ 2.43 × 10¹⁸. They appear in combinatorics (counting permutations and combinations), probability theory, and the binomial theorem. This calculator supports factorial for non-negative integers up to about 170 (beyond that, the result exceeds the maximum representable floating-point number).
See also
How to Use This Calculator
Enter numbers by clicking the digit buttons or typing on your keyboard. Apply
functions like sin,
log, or
√x
immediately after entering a number — they compute instantly. For chained operations
like 3 + 4 × 2, press the operator after each number and hit = to evaluate.
Use the DEG/RAD toggle before any trigonometric calculation.
Trigonometric Functions: Sin, Cos, Tan
The three primary trigonometric functions relate the angles of a right triangle to the ratios of its sides. For an angle θ opposite side a, adjacent side b, and hypotenuse c:
- sin(θ) = opposite / hypotenuse = a / c
- cos(θ) = adjacent / hypotenuse = b / c
- tan(θ) = opposite / adjacent = a / b = sin/cos
The inverse functions (sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹, also written arcsin, arccos, arctan) take a ratio as input and return the angle. They are used to find unknown angles when the side lengths are known. Remember: sin and cos always return values between −1 and 1; tan can return any real number.
Logarithms: log, ln, and log₂
A logarithm answers the question "to what power must the base be raised to get this number?" Three bases are universally important:
- log (base 10) — the common logarithm. log(1000) = 3 because 10³ = 1000. Used in science (pH, decibels, Richter scale).
- ln (natural log) — base e ≈ 2.71828. ln(e²) = 2. Appears everywhere in calculus, growth/decay, and finance (continuously compounded interest).
- log₂ (binary log) — base 2. log₂(64) = 6. Essential in computer science (bits, algorithms, data structures).
Key identity: log_b(x) = ln(x) / ln(b), so any logarithm can be computed from the natural log. For example, log₂(x) = ln(x) / ln(2) ≈ ln(x) / 0.6931.
Using Powers and Roots
Powers and roots are inverse operations. The calculator provides:
- x² — squares the current value (x × x).
- x³ — cubes the current value (x × x × x).
- xʸ — raises x to an arbitrary power y. Enter x, press xʸ, enter y, press =.
- √x — square root. √9 = 3.
- ∛x — cube root. ∛27 = 3.
- 10ˣ — 10 raised to the displayed power. 10² = 100, 10³ = 1000.
- eˣ — e raised to the displayed power. e¹ ≈ 2.71828, e² ≈ 7.38906.
Note that √x of a negative number is undefined in real numbers (the result would be imaginary). The calculator will display "Error" in that case.
Sample Calculations
sin(30°)
Make sure DEG mode is active. Enter 30, then press sin.
log(1000)
Enter 1000, then press log.
√144
Enter 144, then press √x.
2^10 (2 to the power of 10)
Enter 2, press xʸ, enter 10, press =.
5! (5 factorial)
Enter 5, then press n!.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DEG and RAD mode?
DEG (degrees) and RAD (radians) are two ways to measure angles. A full circle is 360° in degrees or 2π radians (≈ 6.2832 rad). To convert: radians = degrees × π / 180, and degrees = radians × 180 / π. Always check which mode you are in before computing trig functions. A common mistake is computing sin(90) in RAD mode — that gives sin(90 radians) ≈ 0.8940, not the expected 1. In DEG mode, sin(90°) = 1 correctly. Scientists and engineers often work in radians because many formulas and calculus derivations are simpler in radians.
How do I calculate sin of 30 degrees?
First, confirm that DEG mode is selected (click the DEG button — it should appear highlighted). Then enter 30 using the number buttons, and click sin. The display will immediately show 0.5, which is the exact value of sin(30°). If you accidentally had RAD selected, you would get approximately 0.9880 instead, which is sin(30 radians).
What is ln vs log?
log on this calculator (and most scientific calculators) means the base-10 logarithm: log(100) = 2 because 10² = 100. ln is the natural logarithm, base e ≈ 2.71828: ln(e) = 1, ln(e²) = 2. In higher mathematics and science, "log" often implicitly means the natural log (especially in calculus), so always check context. For base conversion: log₁₀(x) = ln(x) / ln(10) ≈ ln(x) / 2.3026. Practically, log base 10 is used for orders of magnitude (pH, decibels), while ln appears in compound interest (A = Pe^(rt)), radioactive decay, and probability/statistics.
How does the memory work (MC, MR, MS, M+, M−)?
The memory functions let you store and recall a single value across multiple calculations: MS (Memory Store) saves the current display to memory; MR (Memory Recall) brings that stored value back to the display; MC (Memory Clear) wipes the stored value; M+ adds the current display to the stored value; M− subtracts the current display from the stored value. When memory holds a nonzero value, the "M" indicator lights up near the display. Example: calculate 45 × 3 = 135, press MS, then compute 200 − MR to get 200 − 135 = 65 without re-entering 135.
What does n! (factorial) mean?
The factorial of a non-negative integer n, written n!, is the product of all positive integers up to n. For example: 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120. By definition, 0! = 1. Factorials grow extremely fast: 10! = 3,628,800 and 20! ≈ 2.43 × 10¹⁸. They appear in combinatorics (counting permutations and combinations), probability theory, and the binomial theorem. This calculator supports factorial for non-negative integers up to about 170 (beyond that, the result exceeds the maximum representable floating-point number).