Trig functions convert degrees by x⋅π/180 first. Logarithms are log=log10, ln=loge, and logbx is available as logb(x, b). The factorial is n!=1⋅2⋯n for integers 0≤n≤170. Percent divides by 100.
Worked example
Evaluate 2*sin(30) + sqrt(16)^2 / 4 in degrees.
sin(30∘)=0.5, so 2×0.5=1.
16=4, and 42=16.
16/4=4.
1+4=5.
The power binds tighter than the division, so sqrt(16)^2 / 4 is (42)/4, not 4(2/4).
Common mistakes
Leaving the calculator in radians when entering degree angles: sin(30) in radians is -0.988.
Reading -2^2 as 4. The power is applied before the minus sign.
Typing 1/2x and expecting 1/(2x). It is evaluated as (1/2)⋅x.
Using log for the natural logarithm. In this calculator log is base 10 and ln is natural.
Frequently asked questions
Why does sin(180) show 0 and not a tiny number?
In floating-point arithmetic sin(π) is about 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁶. The calculator snaps values below 10⁻¹⁴ to zero for trig functions and rounds results to 14 significant digits, so you see 0 and 0.3 instead of noise like 0.30000000000000004.
Degrees or radians?
Use degrees for geometry and everyday angles, radians for calculus and physics formulas that contain π. The switch changes sin, cos, tan and their inverses.
What is the order of operations?
Brackets, then factorial and percent, then powers (right to left), then unary minus, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. So -2^2 is -4 and 2^3^2 is 2^9 = 512.
What does "implicit multiplication" mean?
You can leave out the × sign between a number and a bracket or function: 3(4+1) is 15 and 2pi is 6.283. Between two numbers a space is not a multiplication, so write 2*3.
Is there a limit on size?
Numbers up to about 1.8 × 10³⁰⁸ work. Factorials stop at 170! because 171! overflows. Results beyond that display an error rather than infinity.