The Scientific Calculator evaluates full mathematical expressions in your browser: type or tap an expression such as sin(30) + log(1000) x 2 in supported syntax, choose degrees or radians for trigonometry, and get a numeric result rounded cleanly to at most ten decimal places. It is built for quick homework, engineering, and finance checks where a basic four-function calculator runs out of road.
How It Works
Your expression is validated against an allowed set of characters and function names, translated into an equivalent computation (with angle conversion applied when degree mode is on), and evaluated numerically. Anything outside the supported syntax, a domain error such as the square root of a negative number, or a non-finite result returns an error instead of a misleading partial answer.
Supported operations
| Category | Supported | Notes | |---|---|---| | Arithmetic | + - x / and ^ for powers | Parentheses control order of operations | | Roots | sqrt and cbrt | Cube root accepts negative inputs; square root does not | | Trigonometry | sin, cos, tan and inverses asin, acos, atan | Respect the degree/radian mode | | Logarithms | log (base 10) and ln (natural) | log here is base 10, matching most calculators | | Constants | pi and e | Written as pi and e in expressions | | Factorial | fact(n) | Whole numbers only, fact(0) = 1 |
Worked examples
In degree mode, sin(30) returns 0.5 and atan(1) returns 45. In radian mode the same atan(1) returns about 0.7853981634. log(1000) returns 3 because log is base 10, while ln(10) returns about 2.302585093. 2^10 returns 1024, sqrt(144) returns 12, cbrt(-27) returns -3, and fact(5) returns 120. A combined expression such as (3+4) x 2^3 returns 112, with parentheses evaluated first.
Degrees versus radians
Angles are the number one source of "wrong" answers from a correct calculator. Degree mode suits school geometry and everyday problems stated in degrees. Radian mode is the language of calculus, physics, and programming libraries: a full turn is 2 pi radians, and formulas involving arc length or derivatives of sine assume radians. If a trig result looks absurd, check the mode before checking the math: sin of 30 radians is about -0.988, not 0.5.
Precision and rounding
Results are computed in double precision and displayed rounded to ten decimal places with trailing noise trimmed, so sin(30) in degree mode shows 0.5 rather than 0.4999999999. That display rounding is cosmetic; chained hand calculations that retype a rounded display value can drift in the last digits. For engineering tolerances, keep guard digits by copying results carefully and treat anything beyond about twelve significant figures as noise.
Common input errors
Use an explicit multiplication sign or the x key where the interface requires it, match every opening parenthesis with a closing one, and write functions with their parentheses: sin(30), not sin30. Factorials only accept non-negative whole numbers, logarithms reject zero and negative inputs, and inverse trig functions only accept inputs in their domains (asin and acos need values between -1 and 1). Division by zero and overflow return an out-of-range error rather than infinity.
Limitations
The calculator evaluates numeric expressions; it does not do symbolic algebra, solve equations, differentiate, plot graphs, or handle units and variables other than the built-in constants. Extremely large factorials overflow quickly (fact(171) already exceeds double precision range), and results should be independently sanity-checked for safety-critical engineering or medical use.
Order of operations pitfalls worth knowing
Three traps catch experienced users. First, powers bind tighter than a leading minus sign in standard convention, so -3^2 is read as -(3^2) = -9, not (-3)^2 = 9; write the parentheses when you mean the square of a negative. Second, chained powers evaluate right to left in mathematics, so 2^3^2 means 2^(3^2) = 512, not (2^3)^2 = 64; again, parentheses remove doubt. Third, this calculator has no percent key semantics: enter percentages as decimals or fractions (0.15 or 15/100) rather than expecting 15% to be understood. When an answer matters, entering the same computation in two structurally different ways and checking the results agree is a cheap and effective audit.
A note on multiplication signs
Expressions must use explicit operators. Write 2 x pi or use the multiply key provided rather than relying on implied multiplication like 2pi or 2(3+1); implied multiplication is a common source of rejected input in expression calculators because the parser cannot always tell where a number ends and a factor begins. Parentheses multiply nothing by themselves here: (3)(4) needs the operator between the groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is log base 10 or natural log?
log is base 10 and ln is the natural (base e) logarithm, matching standard scientific calculator layout. Use ln for continuous growth and calculus work, log for orders of magnitude, decibels, and pH-style scales.
Why did sin give a strange value?
Almost always the angle mode. The calculator defaults to degrees; a problem stated in radians (or from a textbook using radian formulas) needs the mode switched before evaluating.
Can it solve equations like 2x + 3 = 7?
No. It evaluates expressions with a numeric value. There are no variables to solve for; rearrange the equation yourself and evaluate the resulting arithmetic.