Scientific Calculator
A full-featured scientific calculator with trigonometry, logarithms, powers, roots, and calculation history. Free, works on any device.
Scientific calculators — powerful maths at your fingertips
A scientific calculator goes well beyond basic arithmetic. It handles trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan), logarithms (log and ln), exponents, roots, and constants like π and e — everything you need for high school maths, university-level science, and engineering problems.
This calculator evaluates expressions using standard mathematical order of operations (BODMAS/PEMDAS). Trigonometric functions use degrees, matching the convention taught in Australian schools. The full expression is shown as you type, so you can check your working before pressing equals.
- Trigonometry: sin, cos, and tan take an angle in degrees. For example, sin(30) = 0.5, cos(60) = 0.5, tan(45) = 1. These functions are essential for geometry, physics, and engineering.
- Logarithms: log is the common (base 10) logarithm, while ln is the natural (base e) logarithm. Logarithms are the inverse of exponents — if 10² = 100, then log(100) = 2.
- Powers and roots: Use ^ for any exponent (e.g. 5^3 = 125). The √ button computes square roots. For other roots, use fractional exponents — 8^(1/3) gives the cube root of 8.
- Constants: π (pi, approximately 3.14159) appears in circle calculations and wave functions. e (Euler's number, approximately 2.71828) is the base of natural logarithms and appears throughout calculus and compound growth formulas.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use a scientific calculator?
Enter numbers and operations just like a regular calculator. For scientific functions like sin, cos, tan, log, and ln, press the function button and it will insert the function with an opening parenthesis — then type your number and close the parenthesis. Use ^ for powers (e.g. 2^3 = 8) and √ for square roots. The calculator follows standard order of operations and displays your full expression so you can verify it before pressing equals.
What is the difference between log and ln?
Log (common logarithm) uses base 10 — it answers "what power of 10 gives this number?" For example, log(100) = 2 because 10² = 100. Ln (natural logarithm) uses base e (approximately 2.71828) — it answers "what power of e gives this number?" For example, ln(e) = 1. You will encounter log more often in chemistry and decibel calculations, while ln appears frequently in calculus, compound interest, and natural growth models.
How do I calculate powers and roots?
For powers, enter the base number, press ^, then enter the exponent. For example, 2^10 gives 1024. For square roots, press √ and enter the number. For cube roots or nth roots, use fractional exponents — for example, 27^(1/3) computes the cube root of 27, which equals 3. You can also use negative exponents for reciprocals: 2^(-1) = 0.5.
Does this calculator use radians or degrees?
This calculator uses degrees for all trigonometric functions. When you enter sin(90), it returns 1 — because 90 degrees is a right angle. Internally, the calculator converts your degree input to radians before computing the result. This matches the convention most people learn in Australian schools. If you need radians, you can convert manually by multiplying your radian value by 180/π before entering it.