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Operators in Python

Learn all the symbols to work with data in Python

What You'll Learn

  • Math operators (+, -, *, /)
  • Comparison operators (==, !=, >, <)
  • Logic operators (and, or, not)
  • Assignment operators (=, +=, -=)

Math Operators

These do calculations:

Basic Math

code.py
# Addition
result = 10 + 5
print(result)  # 15

# Subtraction
result = 10 - 5
print(result)  # 5

# Multiplication
result = 10 * 5
print(result)  # 50

# Division
result = 10 / 5
print(result)  # 2.0

Special Math

code.py
# Power (multiply by itself)
result = 2 ** 3
print(result)  # 8 (2×2×2)

# Floor Division (no decimals)
result = 10 // 3
print(result)  # 3 (removes decimal)

# Remainder (what's left over)
result = 10 % 3
print(result)  # 1 (10÷3 = 3 remainder 1)

Comparison Operators

Compare values, get True or False:

code.py
age = 25

# Equal to
print(age == 25)  # True
print(age == 30)  # False

# Not equal to
print(age != 30)  # True

# Greater than
print(age > 20)   # True

# Less than
print(age < 30)   # True

# Greater or equal
print(age >= 25)  # True

# Less or equal
print(age <= 25)  # True

Logic Operators

Combine True/False values:

AND (both must be True)

code.py
age = 25
has_id = True

can_enter = age >= 18 and has_id
print(can_enter)  # True
code.py
age = 16
has_id = True

can_enter = age >= 18 and has_id
print(can_enter)  # False (age too low)

OR (at least one True)

code.py
is_weekend = True
is_holiday = False

can_rest = is_weekend or is_holiday
print(can_rest)  # True

NOT (opposite)

code.py
is_raining = False
is_sunny = not is_raining
print(is_sunny)  # True

Assignment Operators

Give values to variables:

Simple Assignment

code.py
x = 10
name = "John"

Shortcut Assignments

Instead of writing long code, use shortcuts:

code.py
# Add and assign
score = 10
score += 5  # Same as: score = score + 5
print(score)  # 15

# Subtract and assign
score = 20
score -= 5  # Same as: score = score - 5
print(score)  # 15

# Multiply and assign
price = 10
price *= 2  # Same as: price = price * 2
print(price)  # 20

# Divide and assign
total = 100
total /= 4  # Same as: total = total / 4
print(total)  # 25.0

Practice Examples

Example 1: Shopping cart

code.py
total = 0

# Add items
total += 50   # First item
total += 30   # Second item
total += 20   # Third item

print("Total:", total)
# Shows: Total: 100

Example 2: Check discount

code.py
price = 100
has_coupon = True
is_member = True

# Get discount if coupon OR member
gets_discount = has_coupon or is_member
print("Gets discount:", gets_discount)
# Shows: Gets discount: True

Example 3: Age verification

code.py
age = 20
has_permission = True

# Can enter if 18+ AND has permission
can_enter = age >= 18 and has_permission
print("Can enter:", can_enter)
# Shows: Can enter: True

Example 4: Even or odd

code.py
number = 7
is_even = number % 2 == 0

print("Is even:", is_even)
# Shows: Is even: False

String Operators

Work with text:

code.py
# Combine strings
first = "Hello"
last = "World"
full = first + " " + last
print(full)  # Hello World

# Repeat strings
laugh = "ha" * 3
print(laugh)  # hahaha

# Check if text is inside
sentence = "I love Python"
has_python = "Python" in sentence
print(has_python)  # True

Operator Order

Python follows math rules (PEMDAS):

code.py
result = 2 + 3 * 4
print(result)  # 14 (multiply first)

result = (2 + 3) * 4
print(result)  # 20 (parentheses first)

Order:

  1. Parentheses ()
  2. Power **
  3. Multiply *, Divide /, Remainder %
  4. Add +, Subtract -

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using = instead of ==

code.py
# Wrong (this assigns, doesn't compare)
if age = 18:

# Correct (this compares)
if age == 18:

Mistake 2: Forgetting parentheses

code.py
# Without parentheses
result = 10 + 5 * 2
print(result)  # 20 (multiply first)

# With parentheses
result = (10 + 5) * 2
print(result)  # 30

Quick Reference

Math:

code.py
+     # Add
-     # Subtract
*     # Multiply
/     # Divide
**    # Power
//    # Floor division
%     # Remainder

Comparison:

code.py
==    # Equal
!=    # Not equal
>     # Greater
<     # Less
>=    # Greater or equal
<=    # Less or equal

Logic:

code.py
and   # Both True
or    # At least one True
not   # Opposite

Assignment:

code.py
=     # Assign
+=    # Add and assign
-=    # Subtract and assign
*=    # Multiply and assign
/=    # Divide and assign

Summary

  • Math operators do calculations
  • Comparison operators compare values
  • Logic operators combine True/False
  • Assignment operators give values to variables
  • Use () to control order of operations

What's Next?

Now let's learn how to convert between different data types!