You can use the Desmos Scientific Calculator to evaluate expressions, define functions, compute with complex numbers, work with lists, and much more.

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You can define variables and functions and then reference them in subsequent calculations. The evaluation will appear on the right side of the expression line.

For example, try defining a variable by typing \(a=5\). You can then use a in any calculation. Or, define a function by typing \(f(x)=x^2+1\). You can then evaluate it by typing \(f(3)\), which will return \(10\). Click ans to reference the result of your previous calculation in a new expression.

When a result can be expressed as a fraction, a fraction icon will appear next to the result. For example, \(1 + \frac{5}{8}\) displays as \(1.625\) by default. Click Fraction to display the result as \(\frac{13}{8}\) instead. Click Fraction again to return to the decimal form.

The calculator will automatically display very large or very small results in scientific notation. You can also enter numbers in scientific notation directly by typing them in the expression line.

You can make lists using square brackets \([ ]\). For example, you can type \([1,2,7,10]\) to make a four-element list with the values \(1, 2, 7,\) and \(10\). You can use lists anywhere in the calculator where you would enter a number.

Type an ellipsis (...) between elements to generate a list with evenly spaced elements. For example, typing \([1...10]\) will give you a list of all the integers between \(1\) and \(10\). If you type \([1,3...11]\), you’ll get a list of all six odd numbers between \(1\) and \(11\).

If you compute using a list, the calculator will run the computation on each element of the list. For example, \([1...5]^2\) will return a five-element list. You can also name a list as a variable and access individual elements using bracket notation. For example, if \(L=[1...5]^2\), then \(L[3]\) will return \(9\).