Scientific Calculator
Precision arithmetic, trigonometric functions, memory settings & live calculation history.
Keyboard Guide: Number keys, standard operations (+, -, *, /), parentheses, and decimals are mapped. Press Enter to evaluate, Backspace to delete, and Ctrl+C to copy result.
How the Scientific Calculator Works
This calculator evaluates mathematical expressions using standard operator precedence (PEMDAS/BODMAS): exponents are evaluated first, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction. Parentheses override this order, allowing complex nested expressions to be entered.
Formula Used
- Tokenise
- — the input string is split into numbers, operators, functions, and parentheses
- Parse
- — a recursive-descent or shunting-yard algorithm arranges tokens by precedence and associativity
- Evaluate
- — the resulting expression tree is evaluated; trig functions use the selected angle unit (deg/rad)
- Precision
- — results are displayed up to 10 significant digits, with trailing zeros trimmed for readability
Example Calculation
To calculate the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs of length 3 and 4, you can use the Pythagorean theorem directly: enter √(3² + 4²) as √(3^2 + 4^2). The calculator evaluates 3² = 9, 4² = 16, 9 + 16 = 25, then √25 = 5.