Programming in Python: Arithmetic Operations

Python is a versatile and widely-used programming language that supports various programming paradigms, including functional, procedural, and object-oriented programming. One of its fundamental features is its ability to perform arithmetic operations effortlessly.

Basic Arithmetic Operations

Python provides built-in support for standard arithmetic operations. These can be performed interactively using the Python shell (REPL).

>>> 3 + 5  # Addition
8

>>> 10 - 4  # Subtraction
6

>>> 10 * 4  # Multiplication
40

>>> 10 / 4  # Division (returns a float)
2.5

>>> 10 // 4  # Floor division (integer result)
2

>>> 10 % 4  # Modulus (remainder)
2

>>> 2 ** 3  # Exponentiation (power)
8

Assigning Values to Multiple Variables

Python allows assigning a single value to multiple variables simultaneously:

>>> x = y = z = 0
>>> print(x, y, z)
0 0 0

You can also assign different values to multiple variables in a single line:

>>> a, b, c = 5, 10, 15
>>> print(a, b, c)
5 10 15

Working with Complex Numbers

Python natively supports complex numbers. Imaginary numbers are written with a suffix j or J. The real and imaginary parts of a complex number can be accessed using the .real and .imag attributes:

>>> z = 3 + 4j
>>> z.real
3.0

>>> z.imag
4.0

>>> -1j * 1j  # Multiplying imaginary numbers
(1+0j)

Using the Last Evaluated Result (_)

In interactive mode (Python shell), the last printed value is automatically assigned to the special variable _:

>>> a = 678
>>> a * 23
15594

>>> print(_)  # Accessing the last result
15594

>>> _ / 22  # Using the last result in another calculation
708.0

This feature is useful when performing quick calculations without explicitly storing intermediate values in variables.

Additional Considerations

  • Python supports floating-point arithmetic, but be aware of precision issues due to how floating-point numbers are stored.
  • The decimal and fractions modules provide more precise control over numerical calculations.
  • Python 3 introduced // for floor division, ensuring integer division results are consistent.

Conclusion

Python makes arithmetic operations simple and intuitive. Its support for complex numbers, multiple assignments, and interactive features like _ provide an efficient programming experience. Whether you’re working on basic calculations or advanced numerical computations, Python’s arithmetic capabilities are powerful and easy to use.

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Author: Abhilash

Hi, I’m Abhilash! A seasoned web developer with 15 years of experience specializing in Ruby and Ruby on Rails. Since 2010, I’ve built scalable, robust web applications and worked with frameworks like Angular, Sinatra, Laravel, Node.js, Vue and React. Passionate about clean, maintainable code and continuous learning, I share insights, tutorials, and experiences here. Let’s explore the ever-evolving world of web development together!

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