What are the arithmetic operators in Java?

Java 8 Object Oriented Programming Programming

This article will help you understand all about Arithmetic Operators in Java. Before jumping into Arithmetic Operators, let us revise about Operators.

OPERATORS

Programming in Computer Science requires some arithmetical or logical operations. In such circumstances, we need operators to perform these tasks. Thus, an Operator is basically a symbol or token, which performs arithmetical or logical operations and gives us meaningful result. The values involved in the operation are called Operands.

Here is a basic Pictorial representation of Operators.

Now, let us discuss the types of Operators available.

TYPES OF OPERATORS

There are three types of Operators in Java which are −

Arithmetical Operators
Relational Operators
Logical Operators

In this article we are only discussing about Arithmetical Operators, so let’s jump into it.

ARITHMETICAL OPERATORS

The operators which are applied to perform arithmetical calculations in a program, are known as Arithmetical operators. Some basic calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus are often used during programming. One can apply arithmetic operators like +, -, *, / and % respectively to carry out these calculations. For example, A + B, A – B, A % B are all examples of arithmetical operator usage.

Do you know what Arithmetical Expressions are? A + B is considered an Arithmetical Expression. Basically, an Arithmetical expression may contain variables, constants and arithmetical operators together to produce a meaningful result. A + B, A – B, A % B are all examples of arithmetical expressions.

Now what happens if we assign an arithmetical expression to a variable? For example, what do we call X = A + B? Is it an arithmetical expression or is it something else? Well this is called an Arithmetical Statement. If an arithmetical expression is assigned to a variable then it is known as Arithmetical Statement. Syntax of Arithmetical Statement is − X = A + B, Y = A % B etc.

Now we need to know who to write expression in Java Program.

EXPRESSIONS IN JAVA

When you write a program in Java, it is necessary to represent the arithmetical expressions into Java expressions. Given below are few examples of how to illustrate a mathematical expression in JAVA.

Mathematical Expression: abc

Java Expression: a * b * c
Mathematical Expression: ab + bc + ca

Java Expression: a * b + b * c + c * a
Mathematical Expression: a² + b²

Java Expression: a * a + b * b
Mathematical Expression: (1/3)ab + (2/5)ba

Java Expression: 1.0/3.0 * a * b + 2.0/5.0 * b * a

Now there exist three different types of Arithmetical Operators. They are −

Unary Operator
Binary Operator
Ternary Operator

Let us understand each of them individually.

UNARY OPERATOR

An Arithmetical operator, which is applied with a single operand is known as Unary Operator. Example: +, -, ++, --, etc. Details of each types of operators are given below.

Unary (+) Operator

This operator is applied before the operand. It is just applied as a pointer to a variable which results in the same value of a variable. Example: If a = 10, then +a will result in 10. If a = -10, then +a will result in -10.

Example


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class UnaryTest { // class declaration
    public static void main(String[] args) { // main function declaration

        int number = 10; // initializing variable
        System.out.println("Original Number = "+number); // displaying original number
        number = +number; // applying unary (+) operator
        System.out.println("Updated Number = "+number); // displaying number after applying unary (+) operator
    }
}

Unary (-) Operator

This operator is applied before the operand, same as that of Unary (+) operator. Unary (-) reverts the sign of an operand. Example: If a = 10, then –a will result in -10. If a = 0, then –a will result in 0. If a = -10, then –a will result in 10.

Example


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class UnaryTest {// class declaration
   public static void main(String[] args) {// main function declaration
      int number = 10; // initializing variable
      System.out.println("Original Number = "+number); // displaying original number
      number = -number; // applying unary (-) operator
      System.out.println("Updated Number = "+number); // displaying number
      //after applying unary (-) operator;
   }
}

Unary (++) Operator

This operator increases the value of an operand by one. Example: a = a + 1, by applying increment operator it can be written as a++ or ++a.

Example


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class UnaryTest { // class declaration
   public static void main(String[] args){ // main function declaration
      int number = 10; // initializing variable
      System.out.println("Original Number = "+number); // displaying original number
      number = ++number; // applying unary (++) operator
      System.out.println("Updated Number = "+number); // displaying number
      //after applying unary (++) operator
   }
}

Unary (--) Operator

This operator decreases the value of an operand by one. Example: a = a - 1, by applying decrement operator it can be written as a-- or --a.

Example


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class UnaryTest {  // class declaration
   public static void main(String[] args) {  // main function declaration
      int number = 10; // initializing variable
      System.out.println("Original Number = "+number); // displaying original number
      number = --number; // applying unary (--) operator
      System.out.println("Updated Number = "+number); // displaying number
      //after applying unary (--) operator
   }
}

In part (iii) of Unary Operator, we see that both a++ and ++a will increment value of a by 1. Then what’s the difference between the two. Let’s find out.

Prefix Operator (++a)

When increment or decrement operators are applied before the operant, it is known as prefix operators. This operator works on the principle “CHANGE BEFORE ACTION”. It means the value of the variable changes before the operation takes place.

Example − Increment Prefix Operator

a = 10;
a = ++a * 2;

Before the operation, value of a was 10. Then in the next arithmetical statement, ++a increases a’s value by 1. So the new value of a is 11. Then the arithmetical operation a * 2 takes place, after which value of a becomes 22.

Example: Decrement Prefix Operator

a = 10;
a = --a * 2;

Before the operation, value of a was 10. Then in the next arithmetical statement, --a decreases a’s value by 1. So the new value of a is 9. Then the arithmetical operation a * 2 takes place, after which value of a becomes 18.

Code − Prefix increment and decrement operator


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class PrefixTest { // class declaration
   public static void main(String[] args) { // main function declaration
      int number = 10; // initializing variable
      System.out.println("Original Number = "+number); // displaying original number
      ++number; // applying increment perfix operator
      System.out.println("Updated Number after increment = "+number); // displaying number after increment
      --number; // applying decrement prefix operator
      System.out.println("Updated Number after decrement = "+number); // displaying number after decrement
   }
}

Postfix Operator (a++)

When increment or decrement operators are applied after the operant, it is known as postfix operators. This operator works on the principle “CHANGE AFTER THE ACTION”. It means the value of the variable changes after the operation takes place.

Example − Increment Postfix Operator

a = 10;
a = a++ * 2;

Before the operation, value of a was 10. Then the arithmetical operator a * 2 takes place, after which value of a become 20. This value is then stored in a. Hence the new value of a becomes 20.

Example − Decrement Postfix Operator

a = 10;
a = a-- * 2;

Before the operation, value of a was 10. Then the arithmetical operator a * 2 takes place, after which value of a become 20. This value is then stored in a. Hence the new value of a becomes 20.

Code − Postfix increment and decrement operator


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class PostfixTest { // class declaration
   public static void main(String[] args){ // main function declaration
      int number = 10; // initializing variable
      System.out.println("Original Number = "+number); // displaying original number
      number++; // applying increment postfix operator
      System.out.println("Updated Number after increment = "+number); // displaying number after increment
      number--; // applying decrement postfix operator
      System.out.println("Updated Number after decrement = "+number); // displaying number after decrement
   }
}

BINARY OPERATOR

An arithmetic operator which deals with two operands, is known as Binary Arithmetic Operator.

Example

Addition (+): a = 10, b = 7, a + b = 17
Subtraction (-): a = 10, b = 7, a – b = 3
Multiplication (*): a = 10, b = 7, a * b = 70
Division (/): a = 10, b = 7, a / b = 1
Modulus (&): a = 10, b = 7, a & b = 3

Code − Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division and Modulus


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class BinaryTest { // class declaration
   public static void main(String[] args) { // main function declaration
      int a = 10, b = 7; // variable initialization
      System.out.println("Value of a = "+a); // displaying value of a and b
      System.out.println("Value of b = "+b);
      int sum = a + b; // calculating addition
      System.out.println("a + b = "+sum);
      int sub = a - b; // calculating subtraction
      System.out.println("a - b = "+sub);
      int mul = a * b; // calculating multiplication
      System.out.println("a * b = "+mul);
      int div = a / b; // calculating division
      System.out.println("a / b = "+div);
      int mod = a % b; // calculating modulus
      System.out.println("a % b = "+mod);
   }
}

TERNARY OPERATOR

Ternary Operators deal with three operands. It is also called conditional assignment statement because the value assigned to a variable depends upon a logical expression.

Syntax: variable = (test expression)? Expression 1: Expression 2

Example: a = 10, b = 7;

Max = (a>b)? a:b;

Here, the value 10 is stored in Max as a>b is true.

Min = (b>a)? a:b;

Here, the value 7 is stored in Min as b>a is false.

Code: Ternary Operator Example


import java.io.*; // importing java.io package
public class TernaryTest { // class declaration
   public static void main(String[] args) { // main function declaration
      int a = 10, b = 7; // variable initialization
      System.out.println("Value of a = "+a); // displaying value of a and b
      System.out.println("Value of b = "+b);
      int max = (a>b)? a:b; // here value of a will be stored in max as a>b is true in this example
      int min = (b>a)? a:b; // here value of b will be stored in min as b>a is false in this example
      System.out.println("Maximum of a and b = "+max);
      System.out.println("Minimum of a and b = "+min);
   }
}