Arithmetic Operators

What is an Arithmetic Operator?

An arithmetic operator is one or more symbols that tells the computer what mathematical operation it should perform on values or variables.

See this page for an overview of other types of operators.

The most common arithmetic operators are:

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

In the example below, we use the / operator to divide the number 27 by 9:

print(27 / 9)

console.log(27 / 9);

System.out.println(27 / 9);

cout << 27 / 9;

Use the simulation below to see the result of different arithmetic operations:

result = a + b

result = a - b

result = a * b

result = a / b

result = a % b

result = a ** b

Addition of Strings

The addition operator + can also be used to put text strings together, so that "Hello" + " World" results in the combined string "Hello World".

print("Hello" + " World")

console.log("Hello" + " World");

System.out.println("Hello" + " World");

cout << string("Hello") + " World";

The Modulus Operator

The modulus operator % returns the remainder of the division. If 7 apples are divided between 3 people, each person gets 2 apples and there is 1 apple left over. 7 % 3 is 1 (the remainder).

print(7 % 3)

console.log(7 % 3);

System.out.println(7 % 3);

cout << 7 % 3;

The Exponentiation Operator

The exponentiation operator ** raises the first operand to the power of the second, which means that 2 ** 3 is the same as 2 * 2 * 2, which equals 8.

Writing 2 ** 3 mathematically looks like this: $2^3 = 8$.

print(2 ** 3)

console.log(2 ** 3);

System.out.println(Math.pow(2, 3));

cout << pow(2, 3);