Scientific Calculator
Advanced calculator with trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions
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Trigonometric
sin, cos, tan and their inverses (asin, acos, atan)
Logarithmic
log (base 10), ln (natural log)
Powers
x², x³, xʸ (any power), √x (square root)
Special
n! (factorial), 1/x (reciprocal), eˣ (exponential)
Constants
π (pi ≈ 3.14159), e (Euler's number ≈ 2.71828)
Memory
MC (clear), MR (recall), M+ (add), M- (subtract)
What is a Scientific Calculator?
A scientific calculator is an advanced calculating device designed to handle mathematical operations beyond basic arithmetic. It includes functions for trigonometry, logarithms, exponents, roots, and more. Scientists, engineers, students, and mathematicians use these calculators to solve complex equations and perform advanced calculations quickly and accurately.
Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan) are essential for working with angles and triangles. These functions are used in fields ranging from physics and engineering to architecture and navigation. The calculator supports both degree and radian modes—degrees are more intuitive for everyday use (a right angle is 90°), while radians are preferred in higher mathematics and calculus (a right angle is π/2 radians).
The inverse trigonometric functions (asin, acos, atan) work backwards—they tell you what angle would produce a given sine, cosine, or tangent value. For example, if sin(30°) = 0.5, then asin(0.5) = 30°.
Logarithmic and Exponential Functions
Logarithms are the inverse of exponents. While 10² = 100, log(100) = 2. The log button calculates base-10 logarithms, while ln calculates natural logarithms (base e). Natural logarithms are fundamental in calculus, compound interest calculations, and many scientific formulas.
The exponential function (eˣ) raises Euler's number (e ≈ 2.71828) to a power. This function appears throughout nature in growth and decay processes, from population growth to radioactive decay.
Memory Functions
Memory functions allow you to store values for later use, which is incredibly useful for multi-step calculations. M+ adds the current display to memory, M- subtracts it, MR recalls the stored value, and MC clears the memory. This lets you perform intermediate calculations without losing important values.
Order of Operations
Scientific calculators follow the standard mathematical order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS): Parentheses/Brackets, Exponents/Orders, Multiplication and Division (left to right), Addition and Subtraction (left to right). Functions like sin, log, and sqrt are evaluated before multiplication and division.