PHP Arithmetic Operators

Introduction to PHP Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators in PHP are fundamental tools for performing mathematical calculations. These operators allow developers to execute basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus, and exponentiation. Understanding these operators is crucial for building dynamic web applications, handling numerical data, and optimizing performance in PHP scripts.

In this detailed guide, we will explore each arithmetic operator in PHP, their syntax, practical use cases, and real-world examples with outputs. This guide is optimized for high-ranking keywords such as "PHP arithmetic operators," "PHP addition operator," "PHP modulus example," and "PHP exponentiation operator" to ensure maximum visibility in Google search results.

Types of PHP Arithmetic Operators

PHP supports the following arithmetic operators:

1. Addition Operator (+)

The addition operator (+) adds two numeric values.

Example

<?php
$a = 10;
$b = 20;
$sum = $a + $b;
echo "The sum of $a and $b is: " . $sum;  // Output: The sum of 10 and 20 is: 30
?>

Output

2. Subtraction Operator (-)

The subtraction operator (-) subtracts the second operand from the first.

<?php
$x = 50;
$y = 30;
$difference = $x - $y;
echo $difference;  // Output: 20
?>

Output

3. Multiplication Operator

The multiplication operator (*) multiplies two operands.

<?php
$num1 = 5;
$num2 = 6;
$product = $num1 * $num2;
echo $product;  // Output: 30
?>

Output

4. Division Operator (/)

The division operator (/) divides the first operand by the second and returns a floating-point result.

<?php
$dividend = 15;
$divisor = 4;
$quotient = $dividend / $divisor;
echo $quotient;  // Output: 3.75
?>

Output

5. Modulus Operator (%)

The modulus operator (%) returns the remainder of a division operation.

<?php
$num1 = 17;
$num2 = 5;
$remainder = $num1 % $num2;
echo $remainder;  // Output: 2
?>

Output

Practical Use Case:

• Checking if a number is even or odd:

<?php
$number = 7;

if ($number % 2 == 0) {
    echo "$number is Even";
} else {
    echo "$number is Odd";  // Output: 7 is Odd
}
?>

Output

6. Exponentiation Operator (**)

The exponentiation operator (**) raises the first operand to the power of the second operand (introduced in PHP 5.6).

<?php
$base = 2;
$exponent = 3;
$power = $base ** $exponent;
echo $power;  // Output: 8
?>

Output

Alternative Method (Using pow())

<?php
// Calculate 2 raised to the power of 3
echo "2^3 = " . pow(2, 3);  // Output: 2^3 = 8
?>

Output

Operator Precedence in Arithmetic Operations

PHP follows the standard mathematical PEMDAS/BODMAS rule for operator precedence:

• Parentheses / Brackets
• Exponents / Orders (Exponentiation)
• Multiplication & Division (left to right)
• Addition & Subtraction (left to right)

<?php
$result = 2 + 3 * 4;  // Multiplication first (3*4=12), then addition (2+12=14)
echo $result;  // Output: 14
?>

Output

Real-World Applications of Arithmetic Operators

• E-commerce Websites (Calculating total price, discounts, taxes)
• Financial Calculators (Loan EMI, interest calculations)
• Game Development (Score calculations, damage points)
• Data Analysis (Statistical computations)

Example: Calculating Total Price

<?php
$price = 100;
$quantity = 3;
$discount = 10;  // 10% discount
$total = ($price * $quantity) * (1 - $discount / 100);
echo $total;  // Output: 270
?>

Output

PHP arithmetic operators are essential for performing mathematical operations in web development. This guide covered:

• Addition (+), Subtraction (-), Multiplication (*), Division (/)
• Modulus (%) and Exponentiation (**)
• Operator precedence rules
• Handling division by zero
• Combined assignment operators
• Real-world applications

By mastering these operators, developers can efficiently handle numerical computations in PHP. For further learning, explore comparison operators, logical operators, and string operators in PHP.