Types of Division in Python
Float division
The quotient returned by this operator is always a float number, no matter if two numbers are integers. For example:
Python3
print(5/5)print(10/2)print(-10/2)print(20.0/2) |
Output :
1.0
5.0
-5.0
10.0
Integer division( Floor division)
The quotient returned by this operator is dependent on the argument being passed. If any of the numbers is float, it returns output in float. It is also known as Floor division because, if any number is negative, then the output will be floored. For example:
Python3
print(5//5)print(3//2)print(10//3) |
Output:
1
1
3
Consider the below statements in Python.
Python3
# A Python program to demonstrate the use of # "//" for integersprint (5//2)print (-5//2) |
Output :
2
-3
The first output is fine, but the second one may be surprising if we are coming to the Java/C++ world. In Python, the “//” operator works as a floor division for integer and float arguments. However, the division operator ‘/’ returns always a float value.
Note: The “//” operator is used to return the closest integer value which is less than or equal to a specified expression or value. So from the above code, 5//2 returns 2. You know that 5/2 is 2.5, and the closest integer which is less than or equal is 2[5//2].( it is inverse to the normal maths, in normal maths the value is 3).
Example
Python3
# A Python program to demonstrate use of # "/" for floating point numbersprint (5.0/2)print (-5.0/2) |
Output :
2.5
-2.5
The real floor division operator is “//”. It returns the floor value for both integer and floating-point arguments.
Python3
# A Python program to demonstrate use of # "//" for both integers and floating pointsprint (5//2)print (-5//2)print (5.0//2)print (-5.0//2) |
Output :
2
-3
2.0
-3.0
Division Operators in Python
Division Operators allow you to divide two numbers and return a quotient, i.e., the first number or number at the left is divided by the second number or number at the right and returns the quotient.