Arithmetic operators

Definition

Arithmetic operators are symbols used in programming to perform mathematical calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and modulus. They are fundamental in manipulating numerical data.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The basic arithmetic operators in Python are + (addition), - (subtraction), * (multiplication), / (division), and % (modulus).
2. The division operator / always returns a float, even if both operands are integers.
3. Python also supports floor division using // which returns the largest integer less than or equal to the division result.
4. Exponentiation is performed using the ** operator.
5. Operator precedence determines the order in which operations are evaluated; for example, multiplication and division have higher precedence than addition and subtraction.

Review Questions

• What is the difference between / and // operators in Python?
• How do you perform exponentiation in Python?
• Which arithmetic operator would you use to find the remainder of a division?

Related terms

Modulo Operator:

An arithmetic operator (%) that returns the remainder of a division operation.

Operator Precedence:

Rules that determine the order in which different arithmetic operations are carried out.

Floor Division:

$$\text{An operation performed using } // \text{ that returns the largest integer less than or equal to the result of a division.}$$