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Lesson 26 +10 XP

Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators do math with numbers.

OperatorNameExample
+Additionx + y
-Subtractionx - y
*Multiplicationx * y
/Divisionx / y
%Modulus (remainder)x % y
**Exponentiationx ** y
//Floor divisionx // y

The tricky ones

/ always returns a float:

print(10 / 3)   # 3.3333333333333335
print(8 / 2)    # 4.0

// divides and rounds down to a whole number:

print(10 // 3)  # 3
print(-10 // 3) # -4 (rounds down, not toward zero)

% gives the remainder:

print(10 % 3)   # 1
print(7 % 2)    # 1 (odd)
print(8 % 2)    # 0 (even)

** raises to a power:

print(2 ** 3)   # 8

Division by zero

Dividing by zero raises ZeroDivisionError:

print(1 / 0)  # ZeroDivisionError

TL;DR

  • / is float division, // is floor division.
  • % is the remainder, ** is power.
  • Modulus is great for even/odd checks.
  • Dividing by zero errors out.