{"id":447,"date":"2021-03-16T08:01:24","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T08:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phptutorial.net\/?page_id=447"},"modified":"2025-04-10T03:31:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T03:31:23","slug":"php-arithmetic-operators","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.phptutorial.net\/php-tutorial\/php-arithmetic-operators\/","title":{"rendered":"PHP Arithmetic Operators"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you will learn about the arithmetic operators including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, and modulo to perform arithmetic operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to PHP arithmetic operators #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PHP provides common arithmetic operators that allow you to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, and modulus operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arithmetic operators require numeric values. If you apply an arithmetic operator to non-numeric values, PHP will attempt to convert them to numeric values before performing arithmetic operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following table displays the arithmetic operators in PHP:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operator<\/th>Name<\/th>Example<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
+<\/td>Addition<\/td>$x * $y<\/td>Return the sum of $x<\/code> and $y<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
\u2013<\/td>Subtraction<\/td>$x – $y<\/td>Return the difference of $x<\/code> and $y<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
*<\/td>Multiplication<\/td>$x * $y<\/td>Return the product of $x<\/code> and $y<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
\/<\/td>Division<\/td>$x \/ $y<\/td>Return the quotient of $x<\/code> and $y<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
%<\/td>Modulo<\/td>$x % $y<\/td>Return the remainder of $x<\/code> divided by $y<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
**<\/td>Exponentiation<\/td>$x ** $y<\/td>Return the result of raising $x<\/code><\/var> to the power of  $y<\/code><\/var>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Addition operator #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The addition operator (+) adds two numbers and returns their sum. You can use the addition operator with integers and floats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sum of two integers will result in an integer:<\/p>\n\n\n

<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 10<\/span>;\n$y = 20<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x + $y;\n\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
int(30<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
The sum of an integer with a float or two floats will result in a float:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 10<\/span>;\n$y = 2.0<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x + $y;\n\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
float(12<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Computers cannot represent floats precisely. In some cases, the result will not be what you expect. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$z = 0.1<\/span> + 0.1<\/span> + 0.1<\/span>;\n\nvar_dump($z);\n<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
float(0.30000000000000004<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
You’ll encounter an issue If you add floats and compare the result with another float. For example, the following returns false<\/code> instead of true<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$z = 0.1<\/span> + 0.1<\/span> + 0.1<\/span>;\n\nvar_dump($z === 0.3<\/span>);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
bool(false<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
If you add a number and a string, PHP will attempt to convert the string to a number before performing the calculation:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 1<\/span> + '2'<\/span>;\necho<\/span> $x;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 1<\/span> + '2'<\/span>;\necho<\/span> $x;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
If the string contains a non-numeric value, PHP will issue a warning. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 1<\/span> + '2a'<\/span>;\necho<\/span> $x;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Warning:<\/p>\n\n\n
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
If PHP cannot convert the string to a number, it’ll issue fatal and type errors:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 1<\/span> + 'a'<\/span>;\necho<\/span> $x;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Error:<\/p>\n\n\n
Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: Unsupported operand types: int + string\nTypeError: Unsupported operand types: int + string<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Subtraction operator #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The subtraction operator subtracts the second from the first:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 20<\/span>;\n$y = 10<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x - $y;\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
int(10<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
If you subtract a float from another float or integer, the result will be a float:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 3.0<\/span>;\n$y = 1.0<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x - $y;\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
float(2<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Like the addition operator, subtracting a float from another will sometimes result in inaccurate numbers. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 0.3<\/span> - 0.1<\/span>;\nvar_dump($x);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
float(0.19999999999999998<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Multiplication Operator #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The multiplication operator multiplies two numbers. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 10<\/span>;\n$y = 20<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x * $y;\n\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
int(200<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
When you multiply a float with an integer or float, the result will be a float:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 10<\/span>;\n$y = 1.0<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x * $y;\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
float(10<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Division operator #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The division operator divides the first number by the second one. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 20<\/span>;\n$y = 10<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x \/ $y;\n\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
int(2<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
If you attempt to divide a number by zero, you’ll get a fatal error:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 10<\/span> \/ 0<\/span>;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Error:<\/p>\n\n\n
Fatal error: Uncaught DivisionByZeroError: Division by zero<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Modulus operator #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The modulus operator (%<\/code>) returns the remainder of the division:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$x = 5<\/span>;\n$y = 2<\/span>;\n\n$z = $x \/ $y;\nvar_dump($z);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
float(2.5<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Exponentiation operator #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The exponentiation operator (**<\/code>) raises a number to the power of another number. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
<?php<\/span>\n\n$result  = 10<\/span> ** 3<\/span>;\n\nvar_dump($result);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
int(1000<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PHP<\/span> (<\/span>php<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Summary #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Use the addition operator (+<\/code>) to add two numbers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the subtraction operator (-<\/code>) to subtract a second number from the first number.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the multiplication operator (*<\/code>) to multiply two numbers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the division operator (\/<\/code>) to divide the first number by the second.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the modulus operator (%<\/code>) to return the remainder of the division.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the exponentiation operator (**)<\/code> to raise a number to a power of another number.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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