CalculatorScientific Calculator
What it can do
| Button | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sin cos tan | Trigonometry | sin(30) = 0.5 in degrees |
| sin⁻¹ cos⁻¹ tan⁻¹ | Inverse trigonometry | sin⁻¹(1) = 90 |
| ln log | Natural log Base-10 log | log(1000) = 3 |
| √ x², xʸ | Square root Powers | √16 = 4 2^10 = 1,024 |
| n! | Factorial | 5! = 120 |
| π e | Pi Euler's number | 2π = 6.283185… |
Degrees or radians
The DEG button shows the angle unit. In degree mode, sin(90) = 1. Tap it to switch to RAD, where sin(π/2) = 1. School geometry usually uses degrees; calculus and physics formulas usually use radians.
Square roots and other roots
Use √ for a square root: √2 = 1.41421356… For other roots, use a fractional power: the cube root of 27 is 27^(1/3) = 3, and the fourth root of 16 is 16^(1/4) = 2.
Tips
- You can leave out the × sign before parentheses and constants: 2(3+4) = 14, 3π.
- Powers are evaluated from right to left: 2^3^2 = 2^9 = 512.
- A leading minus sign is applied after the power: −2^2 = −4. Write (−2)^2 to get 4.
FAQ
Why does tan(90) show an error?
tan of 90 degrees is undefined: the value grows without limit as the angle approaches 90°.
How large a factorial can it handle?
Up to 170! (about 7.26 × 10^306). Larger factorials exceed the biggest number a browser can store.
Related guide
- Scientific Calculator Guide: Angles, Powers, E NotationUse a scientific calculator correctly: degrees versus radians, order of operations, powers, roots, logs, factorials and scientific notation like 6.674E-11.
- Logarithms Made Simple: log, ln and Real-World ScalesWhat a logarithm means, log10 versus ln, the log rules, change of base, and how logs work in earthquake magnitudes, decibels, pH and doubling time.