Arithmetic Operators in Java Programming

What is Arithmetic Operators

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

Video Explanation

Click the button below to watch the explanation.

Please wait while the video is loading....

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.