How to perform arithmetic operations in Python?

Performing Arithmetic Operations in Python

Python is a powerful programming language that provides a wide range of built-in functions and operators for performing arithmetic operations. These operations include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more. In this response, we'll explore the various ways to perform arithmetic operations in Python.

Basic Arithmetic Operators

Python's basic arithmetic operators are:

• Addition (+)
• Subtraction (-)
• Multiplication (*)
• Division (/)
• Modulus (%)
• Exponentiation (**)
• Floor Division (//)

Here's an example of how to use these operators:

# Addition
print(5 + 3)  # Output: 8

# Subtraction
print(10 - 4)  # Output: 6

# Multiplication
print(7 * 6)  # Output: 42

# Division
print(15 / 3)  # Output: 5.0

# Modulus
print(17 % 5)  # Output: 2

# Exponentiation
print(2 ** 3)  # Output: 8

# Floor Division
print(15 // 4)  # Output: 3

Operator Precedence

When performing multiple arithmetic operations, Python follows the standard order of operations, also known as the PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) rule. This determines the order in which the operations are evaluated.

Here's an example that demonstrates operator precedence:

print(2 + 3 * 4)  # Output: 14
# The multiplication is performed first, then the addition.

You can use parentheses to override the default order of operations:

print((2 + 3) * 4)  # Output: 20
# The addition is performed first, then the multiplication.

Decimal and Floating-Point Arithmetic

Python supports both integer and floating-point (decimal) arithmetic. When you perform operations with floating-point numbers, the results may not always be exact due to the way computers represent decimal values.

print(0.1 + 0.2)  # Output: 0.30000000000000004
# This is due to the way computers represent decimal values in binary.

To avoid this issue, you can use the decimal module, which provides a more precise way of handling decimal arithmetic:

import decimal

with decimal.localcontext() as ctx:
    ctx.prec = 2
    print(decimal.Decimal(0.1) + decimal.Decimal(0.2))  # Output: 0.30

Mermaid Diagram: Arithmetic Operations in Python

In summary, Python provides a wide range of arithmetic operators and functions that allow you to perform various calculations and mathematical operations. By understanding the basic operators, operator precedence, and the handling of decimal and floating-point values, you can effectively use arithmetic operations in your Python programs.