How to type an expression
Write the calculation in one line, as you would on paper or in a spreadsheet. Spaces are ignored, and the keyboard symbols * and / work exactly like × and ÷. Use ^ for powers (2^10), parentheses to group, and function names followed by parentheses (sqrt(2), sin(30), log(1000)). A % after a number divides it by 100, and ! after a whole number gives its factorial. The constants pi and e are built in, and a number written directly before a parenthesis or a constant multiplies it, so 2(3+4) is 14 and 2pi is 6.283185.
Scientific notation works on input (6.022e23, 1e-3) and is used for very large or very small results. Every result also appears in full double precision (15 significant digits) so you can paste it into other work.
Order of operations
The calculator follows the standard precedence rules (PEMDAS / BODMAS). Operators higher in the table are applied first; ties are resolved left to right, except for powers, which group from the right.
| Priority | Operation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parentheses and function calls | (3 + 4), sin(30) |
| 2 | Postfix ! and % | 5! = 120, 10% = 0.1 |
| 3 | Powers ^ (right to left) | 2^3^2 = 2^9 = 512 |
| 4 | Unary minus | -2^2 = −4, (-2)^2 = 4 |
| 5 | Multiplication and division | 2 × 3 ÷ 4 = 1.5 |
| 6 | Addition and subtraction | 2 + 3 × 4 = 14 |
Two rules trip people up: a negative base needs parentheses (-3^2 is −9, because the square is applied before the minus sign), and stacked powers are evaluated from the top down, so 2^3^2 is 2 to the 9th, not 8 squared.
Function reference
| Function | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
sin cos tan | Trigonometric functions of an angle (degrees or radians, see below) | cos(60) = 0.5 |
asin acos atan | Inverse trig: the angle whose sine, cosine or tangent is x | atan(1) = 45° |
sinh cosh tanh | Hyperbolic functions (no angle unit) | cosh(0) = 1 |
ln | Natural logarithm, base e | ln(e^3) = 3 |
log | Common logarithm, base 10 | log(1000) = 3 |
log2 | Binary logarithm, base 2 | log2(1024) = 10 |
sqrt cbrt | Square root and cube root | cbrt(27) = 3 |
exp | e raised to the power x | exp(1) = 2.718282 |
abs | Absolute value | abs(-7.5) = 7.5 |
floor ceil round | Round down, round up, round to the nearest whole number | ceil(2.1) = 3 |
n! | Factorial: n × (n − 1) × … × 1, for whole numbers 0 to 170 | 6! = 720 |
Logarithms of other bases use the change-of-base rule: log base 5 of 125 is ln(125)/ln(5) = 3. A root of any order is a fractional power: the fifth root of 32 is 32^(1/5) = 2.
Worked examples
- Compound growth: $2,500 at 6% for 8 years is
2500 × 1.06^8= 3,984.62. - Hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 7 and 24:
sqrt(7^2 + 24^2)= 25. - Height of a tree whose top is 38° above the horizon from 20 m away:
20 × tan(38)= 15.63 m (degrees mode). - Ways to order a shortlist of 7 candidates:
7!= 5,040. Choosing 3 of 7 without regard to order:7!/(3! × 4!)= 35.
Degrees or radians?
The angle unit applies to the six trig functions only. In degrees mode sin(30) is 0.5 and atan(1) is 45; in radians mode sin(pi/6) is 0.5 and atan(1) is 0.7853982 (π/4). Schoolwork, surveying and navigation use degrees; calculus, physics and programming languages use radians. To convert, multiply degrees by π/180 (45 × pi/180 = 0.7853982) or radians by 180/π. A full-precision result such as 0.49999999999999994 is ordinary floating-point rounding; the seven-digit result shows the intended 0.5.
Frequently asked questions
Why does -2^2 give −4 instead of 4?
Exponents are applied before a leading minus sign, so −2^2 means −(2²) = −4. To square a negative number, wrap it in parentheses: (−2)^2 = 4. Excel treats −2^2 as 4, so check which convention your other tools use.
How do I enter a percentage?
Type the number followed by %. It is divided by 100 before anything else happens, so 15% × 80 = 0.15 × 80 = 12, and 250 × (1 + 8%) = 270. The percentage calculator shows each percent formula.
How do I calculate a root other than a square root?
Use a fractional exponent. The cube root of 64 is 64^(1/3) = 4 (cbrt(64) also works), and the fourth root of 81 is 81^(1/4) = 3. sqrt of a negative number has no real answer and returns an error.
Why is my sine or cosine result wrong?
Almost always the angle unit. sin(30) is 0.5 in degrees mode but −0.988 in radians mode. Switch the Angle unit above the expression; the note under the result says which unit was used.
What is the largest factorial it can compute?
170! ≈ 7.257 × 10³⁰⁶ is the largest that fits in double-precision arithmetic; 171! overflows and the calculator reports an error. Factorials are only defined for whole numbers here, so 2.5! is also rejected.
Last updated: October 9, 2026