What this calculator does
It reads the whole expression the way a math teacher would, rather than one key at a time like a basic four-function calculator. That means you can enter 3 + 4 × 2 and get 11, not 14, and nest functions such as sqrt(sin(60)^2 + cos(60)^2). The expression is parsed by CalcNest's own code — nothing you type is executed as a program.
Functions and order of operations
| Type | Keys / names | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Trigonometry | sin, cos, tan, asin, acos, atan, sinh, cosh, tanh | sin(30) = 0.5 (degrees) |
| Logs & exponentials | ln (base e), log (base 10), log2, exp | log(1000) = 3 |
| Powers & roots | ^, x², sqrt, cbrt | 2^10 = 1024 |
| Other | n!, %, abs, floor, ceil, round, π, e, Ans | 5! = 120 |
Order: ( ) → n! % → ^ (right to left) → unary − → × ÷ → + − Degrees → radians: rad = deg × π / 180
Worked example
sin(30) + sqrt(16) * 2^3 in degrees: the power comes first, 2³ = 8; then √16 = 4 and sin 30° = 0.5; then the multiplication, 4 × 8 = 32; and finally the addition, 0.5 + 32 = 32.5.
In radians, sin(pi/6) also gives 0.5, because π/6 radians is 30°.
Limits
- Results are shown to 12 significant digits; very large or small values switch to scientific notation (for example 1.2e-10).
- Factorials are for whole numbers; 171! and above exceed the largest number a browser can store and show as ∞.
- Values that are undefined, such as tan(90°), log of a negative number or division by zero, show an explanation instead of a number.
Sources: NIST, Digital Library of Mathematical Functions, ch. 4: Elementary Functions; IEEE 754 double-precision arithmetic as implemented by JavaScript (ECMAScript Number type).
Frequently asked questions
What order does the calculator do operations in?
Standard order of operations: parentheses first, then factorial and percent, then exponents (evaluated right to left, so 2^3^2 = 2^9 = 512), then unary minus, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction. Note that −2^2 = −4, because the exponent applies before the minus sign, as in algebra.
Is it in degrees or radians?
Degrees by default, which is what most everyday and school problems use: sin(30) = 0.5. Switch to radians for calculus and physics work, where sin(π/2) = 1. The setting also changes the output of sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹ and tan⁻¹.
Can I type instead of pressing buttons?
Yes. Type into the expression box using + − * / ^ ( ) and names such as sin, cos, tan, asin, ln, log, log2, sqrt, cbrt, abs, exp, pi and e. Writing 2pi or 3(4+1) multiplies implicitly. Results update as you type, and the address bar keeps your expression so you can share it.
Why does 0.1 + 0.2 show 0.3 here but 0.30000000000000004 elsewhere?
Computers store most decimals in binary, which cannot represent 0.1 exactly. CalcNest rounds results to 12 significant digits for display, which hides that tiny representation error without affecting any realistic calculation.
What does % do?
It divides the number before it by 100, so 50% = 0.5 and 50% × 200 = 100. To add a percentage to a number, write 200 × (1 + 15%) or 200 × 1.15.