Python provides built-in support for working with numbers, including integers, floating-point numbers, and complex numbers. It also includes a rich set of mathematical functions and methods for performing numerical operations.

Types of Numbers in Python

Python supports three main types of numbers:

  • Integers (int): Whole numbers, e.g., 5, -10, 1000
  • Floating-point (float): Decimal numbers, e.g., 3.14, -0.001, 2.0
  • Complex (complex): Numbers with a real and imaginary part, e.g., 2 + 3j, -5j
# Integer
a = 10
print(type(a))  # <class 'int'>

# Float
b = 3.14
print(type(b))  # <class 'float'>

# Complex
c = 2 + 3j
print(type(c))  # <class 'complex'>

Basic Arithmetic Operations

Python supports standard arithmetic operations:

  • + Addition: 5 + 3 → 8
  • - Subtraction: 10 - 4 → 6
  • * Multiplication: 2 * 6 → 12
  • / Division (float result): 7 / 2 → 3.5
  • // Floor Division (integer result): 7 // 2 → 3
  • % Modulus (remainder): 7 % 2 → 1
  • ** Exponentiation: 3 ** 2 → 9
x = 10
y = 3

print(x + y)  # 13
print(x - y)  # 7
print(x * y)  # 30
print(x / y)  # 3.3333333333333335
print(x // y) # 3
print(x % y)  # 1
print(x ** y) # 1000

Built-in Number Functions

Python provides several built-in functions for working with numbers.

abs(x) - Absolute Value

print(abs(-5))  # 5
print(abs(3.5)) # 3.5

pow(x, y[, mod]) - Power Function

print(pow(2, 3))      # 8 (2³)
print(pow(2, 3, 5))   # 3 (2³ % 5)

round(x, ndigits) - Rounding

print(round(3.14159, 2))  # 3.14
print(round(7.5))         # 8 (rounds to nearest even integer)

divmod(x, y) - Division and Modulus

print(divmod(7, 2))  # (3, 1) → quotient and remainder

Mathematical Functions (math module)

Python's math module provides advanced mathematical functions.

import math

print(math.sqrt(16))  # 4.0 (square root)
print(math.ceil(3.1)) # 4 (round up)
print(math.floor(3.9)) # 3 (round down)
print(math.fabs(-10)) # 10.0 (absolute value)
print(math.factorial(5)) # 120 (5!)
print(math.log(10, 2)) # 3.321928094887362 (log base 2)
print(math.sin(math.pi / 2)) # 1.0 (sin 90 degrees)

Working with Random Numbers (random module)

Python’s random module allows generating random numbers.

import random

print(random.random())      # Random float between 0 and 1
print(random.randint(1, 10))  # Random integer between 1 and 10
print(random.uniform(1, 10))  # Random float between 1 and 10
print(random.choice([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])) # Random choice from a list

List Methods for Working with Numbers

Python lists are often used to store and manipulate collections of numbers. Here are some useful list methods:

lst = [3, 2, 1, 9, 5]

# sum(lst)
# Returns sum of all elements
print( sum(lst) ) # 10

# min(lst)
# Returns the smallest element
print( min(lst) ) # 1

# max(lst)
# Returns the largest element
print( max(lst) ) # 9

# sorted(lst)
# Returns a sorted list
print( sorted(lst) ) # [1, 2, 3, 5, 9]

# len(lst)
# Returns the number of elements
print( len(lst) ) # 5

# lst.append(x)
# Adds an element to the end
print( lst.append(10) )
print(lst) # [3, 2, 1, 9, 5, 10]

# lst.extend(iterable)
# Adds multiple elements
lst.extend([4, 5, 6])
print(lst) # [3, 2, 1, 9, 5, 10, 4, 5, 6]

# lst.insert(i, x)
# Inserts at index i
lst.insert(1, 99)
print(lst) # [3, 99, 2, 1, 9, 5, 10, 4, 5, 6]

# lst.remove(x)
# Removes first occurrence
lst.remove(3)
print(lst) # [99, 2, 1, 9, 5, 10, 4, 5, 6]

# lst.pop(i)
# Removes and returns element at index i
print( lst.pop(2) ) # 1
print(lst) # [99, 2, 9, 5, 10, 4, 5, 6]

# lst.index(x)
# Returns index of first occurrence
print( lst.index(5) ) # 3

# lst.count(x)
# Counts occurrences of x
print( lst.count(2) ) # 1

# lst.reverse()
# Reverses the list
lst.reverse()
print(lst) # [6, 5, 4, 10, 5, 9, 2, 99]