What is the difference between a square root and an nth root?

A square root is the special case n = 2: the number that, multiplied by itself, gives the original. An nth root generalizes this to any whole number n, so the cube root of 27 is 3 because 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. Even roots of negative numbers have no real value, while odd roots do.

When should I use scientific notation?

It is most useful when numbers span many orders of magnitude, such as distances in astronomy, sizes of cells or currents in electronics. It also makes the number of significant figures explicit, which matters in science and engineering.

Is a remainder the same as a decimal part?

No. In 17 ÷ 5, the remainder is 2, while the decimal answer is 3.4. The decimal part 0.4 equals the remainder divided by the divisor (2/5).

Can a negative number have a modulo?

Yes, but the result depends on the convention. Under the mathematical definition the result always falls between 0 and the divisor, so −7 mod 3 is 2. Many programming languages instead keep the sign of the dividend and return −1.

Basic Arithmetic calculators

These tools handle the arithmetic that sits underneath everything else: four-function and scientific calculation, powers and roots, scientific notation, division with remainders, and sorting a list of numbers. Each one shows its working, so you can check a result instead of just trusting it.

9 tools · Updated October 21, 2026

Showing 9 tools

±Advanced Scientific CalculatorGeneral calculatorssin 30° + √16 × 2³32.5

±Basic CalculatorGeneral calculators(120 + 45.5 + 80 − 25) × 1.08238.14

xⁿExponent CalculatorPowers, roots and notation2¹⁰1,024

±Long Multiplication CalculatorMore basic arithmetic tools347 × 269022

modModulo CalculatorDivision, remainders and lists−17 mod 5 (floored)3

√Nth Root CalculatorPowers, roots and notation√50 to 10 decimal places7.0710678119

±Number SorterDivision, remainders and listsSort 42, 7, 19, 3.5, 88, −4−4, 3.5, 7, 19, 42, 88

RRemainder CalculatorDivision, remainders and lists157 ÷ 1312 R 1

×10ⁿScientific Notation CalculatorPowers, roots and notation0.000000456 in scientific notation4.56 × 10⁻⁷

Which one do I need?

I just need to add, subtract, multiply or divide a few numbersBasic Calculator I need trig functions, logs, memory and a proper expression lineAdvanced Scientific Calculator I want to raise a number to a power, including negative or fractional exponentsExponent Calculator I need a square root, cube root or any nth rootNth Root Calculator I have a very large or very small number and want it in a × 10ⁿ formScientific Notation Calculator I want long division with the quotient and remainder shown step by stepRemainder Calculator I need a mod b, as used in programming and clock arithmeticModulo Calculator I have a messy list of numbers and want them in order with the min and maxNumber Sorter

Order of operations and why calculators disagree

Every calculator applies an order of operations: brackets first, then exponents, then multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction from left to right. In the US this is taught as PEMDAS. The rule that trips people up is that multiplication and division have equal rank, so 8 / 4 × 2 is 4, not 1.

The Basic Calculator is built for quick running totals. The Advanced Scientific Calculator accepts a whole expression, keeps brackets visible and adds functions such as sin, log and factorial. If two calculators give different answers for the same keystrokes, the cause is almost always implied multiplication or a missing bracket rather than a bug.

Powers, roots and scientific notation

An exponent says how many times a base is multiplied by itself, and the rules extend naturally: a negative exponent means a reciprocal (2⁻³ = 1/8) and a fractional exponent means a root (8^(1/3) = 2). The Exponent Calculator handles all of these, and the Nth Root Calculator is the faster choice when you only want a root.

Scientific notation writes a number as a × 10ⁿ with a between 1 and 10, which keeps the significant digits visible and makes very large and very small values easy to compare. Use the Scientific Notation Calculator to convert, multiply or divide such values without losing track of the exponent.

Remainders versus modulo

For positive numbers, the remainder and the modulo are the same: 17 divided by 5 leaves 2. The Remainder Calculator shows the long division that produces it, which is what most school exercises ask for.

The two ideas part ways with negative numbers. The mathematical convention (also used by Python) gives a non-negative result for a positive divisor, so −7 mod 3 is 2, while JavaScript and C keep the sign of the dividend and return −1. The Modulo Calculator is the right tool when you are working with clock arithmetic, cycles or code.

Questions people ask

The expression is ambiguous because implied multiplication has no universal priority. Applying the standard left-to-right rule gives 9, but some calculators treat 2(1 + 2) as a single unit and return 1. Adding explicit brackets removes the ambiguity.