Arithmetic Operators in Java Programming

What is Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic Operators in Java are used to performing arithmetic or mathematical operations on operands.

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Arithmetic Operators are of two types:

• Unary Operators - Operators that operates or works with a single operand are called unary operators. For example: (++ , --).
• Binary Operators - Operators that operates or works with two operands are called binary operators. For example: (+, –, *, /, %).

Unary Operators

There are 2 types of Unary operators:

• Increment Operator ++
• Decrement Operator --

Increment Operator ++

The Increment Operator increases the value of a variable by 1.

There are 2 types of Increment Operators and they are:

• Pre-Increment
• Post-Increment

Pre-Increment

The Pre-Increment operator increases the value of a variable by 1 before using it in an expression. In Pre-Increment, the value is first increased by 1 and then used inside the expression.

int x=5, y;
y = ++x;  // value of x is increase by 1 and then stored in y, so y = x + 1 (y = 5 + 1) y=6

In the example above, the value of x which is 5 is first increase by 1 and then stored in x. So the result of y is 6.

Post-Increment

The Post-Increment operator increases the value of a variable by 1 after the expression in which the post-increment is used is fully evaluated. In Post-Increment, the current value is used in the expression first, and then the variable is increased by 1. Let's see an example for better understanding.

int x=5, y;
y = x++;  // value of x is stored in y first and after that x is increase by 1, so y=x (y=5) and x = x + 1 (x = 5 + 1) x=6

In the example above, the value of x which is 5 is first stored in y and after that increased by 1. So the result of y is 5 and the value of x becomes 6.

Decrement Operator --

Decrement Operator decreases the value of a variable by 1.

There are 2 types of Decrement Operators and they are:

• Pre-Decrement
• Post-Decrement

Pre-Decrement

The Pre-Decrement operator decreases the value of a variable by 1 before using it in an expression. In Pre-Decrement, the value is first decreased by 1 and then used inside the expression.

int x=5, y;
y = --x;  // value of x is decrease by 1 and then stored in y, so y = (x - 1) (y = 5 - 1) y=4 and x=4

In the example above, the value of x which is 5 is first decrease by 1 and then stored in x. So the result of y is 4 and x is also 4.

Post-Decrement

The Post-Decrement operator decreases the value of a variable by 1 after the expression in which the post-decrement is used is fully evaluated. In Post-Decrement, the current value is used in the expression first, and then the variable is decreased by 1. Let's see an example for better understanding.

int x=5, y;
y = x--;  // value of x is stored in y first and after that x is decrease by 1, so y=x (y=5) and x = x - 1 (x=5-1) x=4

In the example above, the value of x which is 5 is first stored in y and after that decreased by 1. So the result of y is 5 and the value of x becomes 4.

Binary Operators

There are 5 types of binary operators:

• + Addition
• - Subtraction
• * Multiplication
• / Division
• % Modulus

Addition Operator +

The Addition Operator + is used for adding the value of two or more variables.

int x=5, y=2, z;
z = x + y;  // value of z = 5 + 2 result z=7

In the example above, the value of x and y is first added and then stored in z. So the result of z is 7.

Subtraction Operator -

The Subtraction Operator - is used for subtracting the value of two or more variables.

int x=5, y=2, z;
z = x - y;  // value of z = 5 - 2 result z=3

In the example above, the value of y is subtracted from x and the final result is stored in z. So the result of z is 3.

Multiplication Operator *

The Multiplication Operator * is used for multiplying the value of two or more variables.

int x=5, y=2, z;
z = x * y;  // value of z = 5 * 2 result z=10

In the example above, the value of x and y is first multiplied and then stored in z. So the result of z is 10.

Division Operator /

The Division Operator / is used for dividing the value of two or more variables and the quotient is returned as the result of the division. Let's see the example for more understanding.

int x=5, y=2, z;
z = x / y;  // value of z = 5 / 2 result z=2 which is a quotient

In the example above, the value of x and y is first divided and then stored the quotient in z. So the result of z is 2. Here x and y both are integer variable so the result of their division will be in integer only.

Modulus Operator %

The Modulus Operator % is used for dividing the value of two or more variables and the remainder is returned as the result of the division. Let's see the example for more understanding.

int x=5, y=2, z;
z = x % y;  // value of z = 5 % 2 result z=1 which is a remainder

In the example above, the value of x and y is first divided and then stored the remainder in z. So the result of z is 1.