Last Updated on May 22, 2023 by Prepbytes
Arithmetic operators are an essential component of the C programming language, enabling developers to perform mathematical calculations on numerical values. C provides a set of built-in arithmetic operators that allow you to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more. These operators are fundamental for implementing mathematical algorithms, performing calculations, and manipulating numerical data within C programs.
Arithmetic Operators
An arithmetic operator is used to perform mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus, etc. on the specified operands.
Mathematical operators include things like 5 + 3 = 8, 5 – 3 = 2, 2 * 4 = 8, etc.
Arithmetic Operators used in C language
Let’s discuss the different types of Arithmetic Operators in C programming.
Plus Operator
Use the simple addition (+) operator to combine two given operands. The plus operator can be used with a variety of data types, including integer, float, long, double, enumerated, and text data, to add the specified operand.
Syntax
C = A + B;For instance, we must find the sum of the two supplied operands, 5, and 6. As a result, we use the "+" operator between the supplied integers to add 11.
Code Implementation:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
int num1, num2, res;
// declare float data type number
float f1, f2, res1;
// declare double variables
double d1, d2, res2;
printf (" Enter two integer numbers: ");
scanf ("%d %d", &num1, &num2);
res = num1 + num2; // use + operator
printf (" Enter two float numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%f %f", &f1, &f2);
res1 = f1 + f2; // use + operator
printf (" Enter two double data type numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%lf %lf", &d1, &d2);
res2 = d1 + d2; // use + operator
printf (" The sum of two integer numbers: %d \n", res);
printf (" The sum of two float numbers: %f \n ", res1);
printf (" The sum of two double numbers: %lf", res2);
return 0;
} Minus Operator
The negative operator is indicated by the symbol (-). In order to get the outcome of dividing the first integer by the second, it is used. For the given integer, the programming language supports a number of data types, including int, float, double, long double, etc.
Syntax
C = A - B;Two operands, 15 and 6, are used as an example, and we want the result of their subtraction. Therefore, between the supplied integers that return data 9, we employ the ‘-‘ Operator.
Code Implementation:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
// declare integer variables
int num1, num2, res;
// declare float data type number
float f1, f2, res1;
// declare double variables
double d1, d2, res2;
printf (" Enter two integer numbers: ");
scanf ("%d %d", &num1, &num2);
res = num1 - num2; // use + operator
printf (" Enter two float numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%f %f", &f1, &f2);
res1 = f1 - f2; // use + operator
printf (" Enter two double data type numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%lf %lf", &d1, &d2);
res2 = d1 - d2; // use + operator
printf (" The subtraction of two integer numbers: %d \n", res);
printf (" The subtraction of two float numbers: %f \n ", res1);
printf (" The subtraction of two double numbers: %lf", res2);
return 0;
} Multiplication Operator
The input values a1 and a2 are multiplied together when the multiplication operator is indicated by the star (*). The data type of the supplied integer can be any type in the C programming language, including int, float, and double.
Syntax
C = A * B;As an illustration, we desire the results of the two operands, 15, and 6. As a result, we may use the ‘*’ Operator between the given numbers to obtain the int data 90.
Code Implementation:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
// declare integer variables
int num1, num2, res;
// declare float data type number
float f1, f2, res1;
// declare double variables
double d1, d2, res2;
printf (" Enter two integer numbers: ");
scanf ("%d %d", &num1, &num2);
res = num1 * num2; // use * operator
printf (" Enter two float numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%f %f", &f1, &f2);
res1 = f1 * f2; // use * operator
printf (" Enter two double data type numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%lf %lf", &d1, &d2);
res2 = d1 * d2; // use * operator
printf (" The multiplication of two integer numbers: %d \n", res);
printf (" The multiplication of two float numbers: %f \n ", res1);
printf (" The multiplication of two double numbers: %lf", res2);
return 0;
} Division Operator
The division operator applies arithmetic operations to divide the first number (n1) by the second number (n2). The division operator (/) can be used to divide variables of the int, float, double, and long data types.
Syntax
C = A / B;For instance, we need to know the outcome of the division of two operands, 25.5 and 5.0. Therefore, we employ the operator "/" between the supplied values to get the float data 5.1.
Code Implementation:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
// declare integer variables
int num1, num2, res;
// declare float data type number
float f1, f2, res1;
// declare double variables
double d1, d2, res2;
printf (" Enter two integer numbers: ");
scanf ("%d %d", &num1, &num2);
res = num1 / num2; // use / operator
printf (" Enter two float numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%f %f", &f1, &f2);
res1 = f1 / f2; // use / operator
printf (" Enter two double data type numbers: \n ");
scanf ("%lf %lf", &d1, &d2);
res2 = d1 / d2; // use / operator
printf (" The division of two integer numbers: %d \n", res);
printf (" The division of two float numbers: %f \n ", res1);
printf (" The division of two double numbers: %lf", res2);
return 0;
} Modulus Operator
The modulus operator, represented by the percentage sign (%), is used to divide the first value by the second integer and return the remainder.
Syntax
C = A % B;We want to know the modulus of the two operands, 25 and 4, as an example. In order to return the remainder as 1, we add the "%" operator between the supplied integers.
Code Implementation:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
// declare integer variables
int num1, num2, res;
printf (" Enter two integer numbers: ");
scanf ("%d %d", &num1, &num2);
res = num1 % num2; // use % operator
printf (" The modulus of two integer numbers: %d \n", res);
return 0;
} Increment Operator
In C, the type of arithmetic operators known as an increment operator are denoted by the double plus (++) operator. The integer value is increased by one using it.
Syntax
B = A++;The increment operator increases the operand value by one, or 11, if A, for instance, has an integer value of 10.
Code Implementation:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
// declare integer variables
int num1, res;
printf (" Enter the positive number: ");
scanf ("%d", &num1);
res = num1++; // use increment operator
printf (" The incremented value is: %d ", num1);
return 0;
} Decrement Operator
The decrement operator is denoted by the double minus (-) sign, which decreases the operand value by 1.
Syntax
B = A--;For instance, if A is an integer with a value of 10, the decrement operator would subtract 1 from the operand value and return 9.
Code Implementation:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
// declare integer variables
int num1, res;
printf (" Enter the positive number: ");
scanf ("%d", &num1);
res = num1--; // use decrement operator
printf (" The decremented value is: %d ", num1);
return 0;
} Conclusion:
Arithmetic operators play a vital role in C programming, providing the means to perform mathematical calculations and manipulate numerical data. With operators like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and modulo, developers can implement a wide range of numerical algorithms and solve complex mathematical problems efficiently.
By leveraging arithmetic operators, programmers can perform calculations on variables, constants, and expressions, enabling them to handle numeric data effectively. These operators are not only fundamental for basic arithmetic operations but also essential for advanced tasks such as data analysis, scientific computations, financial calculations, and game development.
FAQ related to Arithmetic Operators in C
Q1. Can arithmetic operators be used with variables in C?
Ans. Yes, arithmetic operators can be used with variables in C. For example, you can add, subtract, multiply, divide, or calculate the remainder using variables.
Q2. What is the precedence of arithmetic operators in C?
Ans. In C, arithmetic operators follow the precedence rules. The order of precedence from highest to lowest is parentheses, multiplication, division, modulo, addition, and subtraction. However, you can use parentheses to explicitly define the order of operations.
Q3. Can I perform mixed-type arithmetic operations in C?
Ans. Yes, C supports mixed-type arithmetic operations. When you perform arithmetic operations on different data types, the C compiler automatically promotes the operands to a common type based on the rules of type conversion.
Q4. What happens if I divide an integer by zero using the division operator?
Ans. Division by zero is undefined in C. If you attempt to divide an integer by zero, the program may result in an error or produce unexpected behavior. It is important to handle such cases with proper error checking and validation.
Q5. Are there any shorthand notations for arithmetic operations in C?
Ans. Yes, C provides compound assignment operators that combine arithmetic operations with assignment in a single expression. For example, += adds and assigns a value, -= subtracts and assigns a value, *= multiplies and assigns a value, and so on.
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