Scientific Calculator — Trig, Log & Powers

Using the Scientific Calculator

Type on screen or with your keyboard — it works both ways.

1

Choose degrees or radians

Set DEG or RAD before using sin, cos or tan — the toggle starts in RAD and its label shows the mode you are in. Inverse trig has its own keys: sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹ and tan⁻¹. Your keyboard works too — digits, operators, Enter to equals, Backspace to delete and Escape to clear.

2

Build the expression

Tap aᵇ for a raised exponent, ÷ for a stacked fraction and √ or ∛ for a radical drawn over its contents — the display reads like real math as you go. Use ← → to step the cursor out of an exponent or a root, n! for factorial, and π or e in one tap. Press Enter to evaluate; everything follows the standard order of operations, so parentheses group exactly as you expect.

3

Use memory and Ans

M+ and M− build a running total, MR recalls it and MC clears it; Ans reuses your last result. Converting a number to scientific notation instead? The Scientific Notation Calculator is built for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I switch between degrees and radians?

To switch between degrees and radians, use the DEG / RAD toggle above the keypad — it starts in RAD, and its label always shows the mode you are in. In degrees, sin(30) gives 0.5, which is what most everyday and school problems expect. In radians, the same functions treat the angle as a multiple of π, so sin(π ÷ 2) gives 1. The toggle also flips the inverse trig functions, so sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹ and tan⁻¹ return an angle in whichever unit is selected. Pick the mode that matches your problem before you calculate, since the same input gives different answers in each.

How do I calculate exponents and roots?

For a power, use the scientific calculator's aᵇ key: type 2, then aᵇ, then 10 and equals to get 1024 — the exponent is drawn raised, and → steps the cursor back out of it. The x² key squares whatever you have entered. For roots, the √ key takes a square root and ∛ takes a cube root, with the radical drawn over its contents, so √ then 144 gives 12. You can also raise to a fractional power for other roots — for a fifth root, raise to a power of 1÷5. Parentheses group everything the way the order of operations expects.

What do M+, M−, MR and MC do?

M+, M−, MR and MC control a single memory store. M+ adds the current result to memory and M− subtracts it, so you can accumulate a running total across separate calculations. MR recalls the stored value into your expression, and MC clears the memory back to zero. A small M indicator appears when memory holds a value. It is useful when you need to hold one figure aside — a subtotal or a constant — while you work out another part of the problem.

How is this different from a scientific notation calculator?

This scientific calculator evaluates expressions with trigonometry, logarithms, powers and roots, like a physical handheld calculator. If instead you need to convert a number to or from scientific notation — for example writing 0.00042 as 4.2 × 10⁻⁴, or doing arithmetic while keeping numbers in that form — use the dedicated Scientific Notation Calculator, which is built for exactly that and shows engineering and E-notation too. The two tools complement each other.

Does the calculator show proper math notation?

Yes — the input is a real math field rather than a line of typed-out text. A square root draws a radical bar over everything inside it, division builds a stacked fraction, and a power is set as a raised exponent, exactly as you would write it on paper. Type it or tap the keys, then use the ← and → keys to move the cursor back out of an exponent or a root when you are done with it.

Can a scientific calculator solve for x or show the steps?

Not this one: it evaluates expressions you type, such as 3² + sin(30°), but it does not rearrange an equation to find x. Some handheld models, such as the Casio fx-991 series, have a SOLVE key that finds a single numeric answer, but none of them show the working. To solve for x with every step shown, use the Quadratic Formula Calculator for ax² + bx + c = 0, the System of Equations Solver for two equations with x and y, the Inequality Calculator for < and > problems, or the Word Problem Solver for number puzzles written in words. For any other equation, plot both sides in the Graphing Calculator and read x where the curves cross.

Related Calculators

Some jobs are quicker in a dedicated tool. The All-in-One Calculator adds a standard mode and a history list, the Log Calculator and Exponential Function Calculator show their working step by step, and the PEMDAS Calculator explains the order of operations behind any expression.