Working with Numbers and Arithmetic Operators in Python

In this lesson, we'll explore how to use numbers and arithmetic operators in Python. Numbers are a fundamental data type in programming, and understanding how to manipulate them is essential for solving real-world problems.

Types of Numbers in Python

Python supports two main types of numbers:

• Integers (int): Whole numbers without decimal points, such as 5, -3, or 42.
• Floating-Point Numbers (float): Numbers with decimal points, like 3.14, -0.001, or 2.0.

You can perform various operations on these numbers using arithmetic operators.

Basic Arithmetic Operators

Python provides several built-in operators to perform calculations:

1. Addition (+): Adds two numbers. Example: 5 + 3 = 8.
2. Subtraction (-): Subtracts one number from another. Example: 10 - 7 = 3.
3. Multiplication (*): Multiplies two numbers. Example: 6 * 4 = 24.
4. Division (/): Divides one number by another. Example: 8 / 2 = 4.0.
5. Modulus (%): Returns the remainder of division. Example: 9 % 4 = 1.
6. Exponentiation (**): Raises a number to the power of another. Example: 2 ** 3 = 8.
7. Floor Division (//): Divides and rounds down to the nearest whole number. Example: 7 // 2 = 3.

Example Code

Here's an example demonstrating these operators:

a = 10
b = 3
print(a + b)   # Output: 13
print(a - b)   # Output: 7
print(a * b)   # Output: 30
print(a / b)   # Output: 3.333...
print(a % b)   # Output: 1
print(a ** b)  # Output: 1000
print(a // b)  # Output: 3

Advanced Math Operations

For more complex mathematical tasks, Python includes the math module. Here's how you can use it:

import math

print(math.sqrt(16))    # Square root: Output: 4.0
print(math.pow(2, 3))   # Exponentiation: Output: 8.0
print(math.pi)          # Value of Pi: Output: 3.14159...

By mastering numbers and arithmetic operators, you'll have the foundation to tackle more advanced topics in Python programming.