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How to use a scientific calculator

A scientific calculator adds powers, roots, trig, logs and memory to the basic keys. Most brands work the same way, even if the key labels differ.

This page has a working keypad, a guide to every key, and short lessons on powers and roots, reusing answers and keeping a running total in memory.

Lessons: learn the Scientific calculator step by step

0 of 3 done

  1. Squares, powers and square rootsUse x², xʸ and √ instead of multiplying a number by itself.

    Step by step

    1. 7x²

      Type 7 and press x². It squares the number before it.

      Display: 7^2

    2. =

      Press = to see 7 × 7.

      Display: 49

    3. AC2xʸ10

      Press AC. Then type 2, press xʸ (power) and type 10, for 2 to the 10th power.

      Display: 2^10

    4. =

      Press =.

      Display: 1,024

    5. AC√144)

      Press AC, then √, type 144 and close the bracket.

      Display: √(144)

    6. =

      Press = for the square root of 144.

      Display: 12

    Tips

    • x² squares the number just before it. For any other power, use xʸ (sometimes written ^ or yˣ).
    • On many calculators √ opens a bracket. Close it before typing anything else.

    Use it on a real problem: Exponent Calculator · Square Root Calculator

  2. Reuse your last answer with AnsCarry an answer into the next calculation without retyping it.

    Step by step

    1. 24×1.5=

      Work out 24 hours at $1.50 an hour.

      Display: 36

    2. ACAns+12

      Press AC, then Ans. Ans stands for the last answer, 36. Add a $12 fee.

      Display: ans+12

    3. =

      Press =.

      Display: 48

    4. ACAns÷4=

      Split the total four ways: Ans ÷ 4.

      Display: 12

    Tips

    • Ans keeps the full answer, not the rounded one on the screen, so chained answers stay exact.
    • Ans changes every time you press =. Use memory (M+) for a number you need later.

    Use it on a real problem: Percentage Calculator · Tip Calculator

  3. Add up a list with memoryUse MC, M+ and MR to keep a running total.

    Step by step

    1. MC

      Press MC (memory clear) so the total starts at zero.

      Display: 0

    2. 12.5M+

      Type the first price, 12.50, and press M+ to add it to memory.

      Display: 12.5

    3. AC7.25M+

      Press AC, type 7.25 and press M+ again.

      Display: 7.25

    4. AC3.4M+

      One more item: 3.40, then M+.

      Display: 3.4

    5. ACMR

      Press AC, then MR (memory recall) to see the total.

      Display: 23.15

    Tips

    • AC clears the screen but not the memory. Only MC clears the memory.
    • M− takes the number on the screen away from the memory, for a refund or a discount.

    Use it on a real problem: Sales Tax Calculator · Average Calculator

Degrees

Display: 0

sinSine of an angle. Check Deg or Rad first, so the angle is read the way you mean it.cosCosine of an angle. Check Deg or Rad first.tanTangent of an angle. Check Deg or Rad first.(Opens a bracket. Whatever is inside the brackets is worked out first.)Closes the bracket you opened.sin⁻¹Inverse sine: the angle whose sine is this number.cos⁻¹Inverse cosine: the angle whose cosine is this number.tan⁻¹Inverse tangent: the angle whose tangent is this number.ππ (pi), about 3.14159: a circle's circumference divided by its diameter.ee, about 2.71828: the base of natural logarithms.x²Squares a number (multiplies it by itself): 5 x² = 25.xʸRaises a number to a power: 2 xʸ 3 = 8.√Square root: the number that, squared, gives this one. √49 = 7.∛Cube root: ∛27 = 3.1/xOne divided by the number: 1/x of 4 is 0.25.logLogarithm base 10: the power of 10 that gives this number. log 1000 = 3.lnNatural logarithm, base e (about 2.718).10ˣTen to the power of the number: 10ˣ of 3 is 1,000.eˣe to the power of the number; used in growth and decay formulas.n!Factorial: multiplies every whole number down to 1. 5! = 120.
MCMemory clear: sets the stored memory back to 0.MRMemory recall: brings back the number stored in memory.M+Adds the number on the screen to memory.M−Subtracts the number on the screen from memory.%Percent: 15% means 0.15, so 80 × 15% = 12. Right after + or −, it takes that percent of the number before it: 50 + 10% = 55.
7The number 7.8The number 8.9The number 9.÷Divide.⌫Deletes the last thing you typed, one character at a time.4The number 4.5The number 5.6The number 6.×Multiply.ACAll clear: wipes the current entry and starts a fresh calculation.1The number 1.2The number 2.3The number 3.−Subtract.AnsAns: the answer to your last calculation, so you can keep going with it.0The number 0..The decimal point, for numbers like 2.5.EXPScientific notation: type 3 EXP 8 for 3 × 10⁸.+Add.=Works out the answer, following the order of operations (brackets, powers, × and ÷, then + and −).

It works! Press the keys to calculate. Hover over or tab to a key to see what it does.

What every key on the Scientific calculator does

Any scientific calculator with brackets, powers, roots and trig keys.

What every key does (36)

Functions

sin
Sine of an angle. Check Deg or Rad first, so the angle is read the way you mean it.
cos
Cosine of an angle. Check Deg or Rad first.
tan
Tangent of an angle. Check Deg or Rad first.
(
Opens a bracket. Whatever is inside the brackets is worked out first.
)
Closes the bracket you opened.
sin⁻¹
Inverse sine: the angle whose sine is this number.
cos⁻¹
Inverse cosine: the angle whose cosine is this number.
tan⁻¹
Inverse tangent: the angle whose tangent is this number.
π
π (pi), about 3.14159: a circle's circumference divided by its diameter.
e
e, about 2.71828: the base of natural logarithms.
x²
Squares a number (multiplies it by itself): 5 x² = 25.
xʸ
Raises a number to a power: 2 xʸ 3 = 8.
√
Square root: the number that, squared, gives this one. √49 = 7.
∛
Cube root: ∛27 = 3.
1/x
One divided by the number: 1/x of 4 is 0.25.
log
Logarithm base 10: the power of 10 that gives this number. log 1000 = 3.
ln
Natural logarithm, base e (about 2.718).
10ˣ
Ten to the power of the number: 10ˣ of 3 is 1,000.
eˣ
e to the power of the number; used in growth and decay formulas.
n!
Factorial: multiplies every whole number down to 1. 5! = 120.

Memory and percent

MC
Memory clear: sets the stored memory back to 0.
MR
Memory recall: brings back the number stored in memory.
M+
Adds the number on the screen to memory.
M−
Subtracts the number on the screen from memory.
%
Percent: 15% means 0.15, so 80 × 15% = 12. Right after + or −, it takes that percent of the number before it: 50 + 10% = 55.

Numbers and operations

0–9
The number keys. Type numbers the way you write them.
÷
Divide.
⌫
Deletes the last thing you typed, one character at a time.
×
Multiply.
AC
All clear: wipes the current entry and starts a fresh calculation.
−
Subtract.
Ans
Ans: the answer to your last calculation, so you can keep going with it.
.
The decimal point, for numbers like 2.5.
EXP
Scientific notation: type 3 EXP 8 for 3 × 10⁸.
+
Add.
=
Works out the answer, following the order of operations (brackets, powers, × and ÷, then + and −).

Solve real problems on the Scientific calculator

Each calculator page shows the exact keys for its problem on this keypad.

Common questions about the Scientific calculator

What does the Ans key do?
Ans stands for your last answer. Use it to carry an answer into the next calculation without retyping it.
What is the difference between x² and xʸ?
x² squares the number before it. xʸ raises a number to any power: type the number, press xʸ, then the power.
Does AC clear the memory?
No. AC clears the screen, but the memory keeps its value until you press MC.

The keypad is Calcapedia's simulation of this calculator, and every lesson is replayed on it automatically. Real calculators can label some keys differently.