Tag: Arithmetic Operation

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.