Operators Arithmetic, Comparison, Logical, Assignment, Membership

Python Basics: Operators

Learn how to use arithmetic, comparison, logical, assignment, and membership operators like a coding wizard!

1. Arithmetic Operators: Math in Python

These operators perform math operations (like +, -, *, /).

Operator	Name	Example	Result
+	Addition	5 + 3	8
-	Subtraction	10 - 4	6
*	Multiplication	3 * 4	12
/	Division	15 / 2	7.5
%	Modulus	15 % 2	1
**	Exponent	2 ** 3	8
//	Floor Division	15 // 2	7

candies = 10  
friends = 3  
candies_per_friend = candies // friends  # Each gets 3 candies  
leftover = candies % friends             # 1 candy left  
print(f"Each friend gets {candies_per_friend} candies, with {leftover} left!")

Output:

Each friend gets 3 candies, with 1 left!

2. Comparison Operators: Decision-Making Tools

These operators compare values and return True or False.

Operator	Meaning	Example	Result
==	Equal to	5 == 5	True
!=	Not equal to	5 != 3	True
>	Greater than	10 > 7	True
<	Less than	10 < 7	False
>=	Greater than or equal	8 >= 8	True
<=	Less than or equal	5 <= 3	False

score = 85  
passed = score >= 60  
print("Did you pass?", passed)

Output:

Did you pass? True

3. Logical Operators: Combine Conditions

Use and, or, not to combine True/False values.

Operator	Meaning	Example	Result
and	Both conditions must be True	(5 > 3) and (2 == 2)	True
or	At least one condition is True	(5 < 3) or (2 == 2)	True
not	Reverses the result	not (5 > 3)	False

has_permission = True  
has_form = False  

# Can join the trip only if both are True  
can_join = has_permission and has_form  
print("Can join trip?", can_join)

Output:

Can join trip? False

4. Assignment Operators: Shortcut Updaters

These operators assign values to variables (with shortcuts!).

Operator	Example	Equivalent To
=	x = 5	x = 5
+=	x += 3	x = x + 3
-=	x -= 2	x = x - 2
*=	x *= 4	x = x * 4
/=	x /= 2	x = x / 2

pocket_money = 20  
pocket_money += 5  # Birthday gift!  
print("Total money:", pocket_money)

Output:

Total money: 25

5. Membership Operators: Check if Present

Check if a value exists in a sequence (like a list or string).

Operator	Meaning	Example	Result
in	Exists in	"a" in "apple"	True
not in	Does not exist in	"z" not in "apple"	True

lunchbox = ["apple", "sandwich", "juice"]  
print("cookie" in lunchbox)    # Output: False  
print("apple" in lunchbox)     # Output: True

Fun Activity: Password Checker

username = input("Enter username: ")  
password = input("Enter password: ")  

# Check if password has at least 8 characters and a number  
is_long = len(password) >= 8  
has_number = any(char.isdigit() for char in password)  

valid = is_long and has_number  
print("Password valid?", valid)

Try:

Password: python3 → Too short!

Password: ilovecoding2024 → Valid!

Common Mistakes

• Using = instead of ==:

if x = 5:  # ❌ Wrong! Use ==

• Forgetting : after conditions.
• Mixing data types: 5 == "5" → False.

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Arithmetic: Math operations (+, -, *, /).
• ✅ Comparison: Compare values (==, >, <).
• ✅ Logical: Combine conditions (and, or, not).
• ✅ Assignment: Update

Practice Quiz

What’s the output?

a = 10  
b = 5  
print(a // 3)          # Q1: ?  
print(not (a > 5))     # Q2: ?  
print("cat" in "catch me if you can")  # Q3: ?  
                

Answers:

• 3 (Floor division: 10//3 = 3)
• False (Because a > 5 is True → not True = False)
• True ("cat" is part of "catch")

What’s Next?

Learn control flow (if-else, loops) to build games and quizzes!

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Tags: python