Scientific Calculator (sin, cos, tan, log, power, factorial)
A free scientific calculator supporting powers, square roots, trigonometric functions (sin/cos/tan), inverse trig, logarithms (log/ln), and factorials. Switch between degrees and radians. Type expressions directly to calculate.
Trigonometric values for special angles
| Angle (degrees) | Angle (radians) | sin | cos | tan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0° | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30° | π/6 | 1/2 | √3/2 | 1/√3 |
| 45° | π/4 | √2/2 | √2/2 | 1 |
| 60° | π/3 | √3/2 | 1/2 | √3 |
| 90° | π/2 | 1 | 0 | Undefined |
What a scientific calculator does
Where an ordinary calculator handles only the four basic operations, a scientific calculator adds the functions that science and engineering need: powers, square roots, trigonometric functions (sine, cosine and tangent), their inverses, logarithms both common and natural, and factorials. Because this tool lets you type the expression as text, you can evaluate a complicated formula in one go rather than pressing keys repeatedly as you would in a calculator app.
Internally the expression is parsed according to operator precedence — powers first, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction — and evaluated entirely in your browser. Division by zero and inputs outside a function’s domain, such as the factorial of a negative number or an inverse trigonometric function out of range, are detected and reported as an error, so a meaningless result is never presented as if it were valid.
How to use the calculator
- Type the expression Enter the formula directly in the expression field. Clicking the on-screen buttons inserts the corresponding symbol or function name at the cursor.
- Choose the angle mode Before using a trigonometric or inverse trigonometric function, select degrees or radians in the angle mode setting.
- Read the result The result field updates in real time as you type. If the expression contains an error, a message explains what is wrong.
- Correct your input Use backspace to fix just the last character, or clear to start again from scratch.
Tips for getting more out of it
- Use
^for powers. Example:2^10→1024. The x² button is a shortcut that inserts^2. - Trig function angles follow the current angle mode. In degrees,
sin(30)is 0.5; in radians,sin(π/2)is 1. - Common logarithm (base 10) and natural logarithm (base e) can be entered with the
log(andln(buttons.log(100)→2,ln(e)→1. - For factorial, add
!right after a number. Example:5!→120. Negative numbers and non-integers will produce an error. - The π and e buttons insert the constants directly into the expression, so you can combine them, e.g.
2 * π.
When this calculator is useful
Maths homework at school or university
Useful for homework involving trigonometry, logarithms or powers, and for checking answers before an exam. Switching between degrees and radians lets you match whatever notation your textbook uses.
Everyday engineering work
Handy when processing design or experimental data that involves powers and logarithms. Being able to enter the whole expression at once is quicker than a calculator app.
Checking a calculation before you code it
Well suited to verifying by hand what a formula or algorithm in your code should produce, before you implement it.
Studying for professional qualifications
Good for practising the trigonometric ratios and logarithms that come up repeatedly in engineering and IT examinations, especially alongside a table of special angles.
Terms used with scientific calculators
- Degrees
- A way of expressing angles by dividing a full circle into 360 equal parts. It is the unit most people meet in everyday life, written with a degree sign as in 30° or 45°.
- Radians
- A mathematical unit expressing an angle as the ratio of arc length to radius. A full circle is 2π radians, and this is the standard unit in calculus and related mathematics.
- Natural logarithm
- A logarithm to base e, Euler’s number, approximately 2.71828. Written ln(x), it is favoured in science and engineering because its behaviour under differentiation and integration is particularly simple.
- Factorial
- The product of every integer from 1 up to the given number. So 5! is 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 = 120, and it appears throughout permutation and combination calculations.
- Inverse trigonometric functions
- Functions that recover an angle from the value of sine, cosine or tangent. Written asin, acos and atan, their inputs are limited to the output range of the original functions, which for sine and cosine is −1 to 1.
FAQ
Side Note — What actually separates a "scientific" calculator from a regular one
The term "scientific calculator" refers to a device that, unlike a basic four-function calculator, supports the functions used in engineering and science — trigonometry, logarithms, and exponentiation. The first handheld scientific calculator, the HP-35, launched in 1972 and is widely credited with making the slide rule obsolete almost overnight for engineers.
Degrees and radians are both units for measuring angles, but they are built on different foundations. Degrees divide a full circle into 360 parts, a convention thought to trace back to Babylonian base-60 mathematics. Radians, by contrast, are defined by the ratio of arc length to radius, making them the natural unit in mathematics and physics — a full circle is both 360° and 2π radians.
Logarithms (log and ln) turn multiplication into addition, a property that made them an indispensable tool for astronomers and navigators long before calculators or slide rules existed. When John Napier introduced logarithms in the 17th century, it dramatically cut the time needed for the complex astronomical calculations of the era.