Table of Contents
What Is the Difference Between the / and // Division Operators in Python?
Learn how to get a floating-point result when dividing numbers in Python. Understand the difference between the true division (/) and floor division (//) operators to ensure your calculations are accurate and you get the precise result you need.
Question
Which expression produces a floating-point result for 7 divided by 2?
A. int(7/2)
B. float(7//2)
C. 7//2
D. 7/2
Answer
D. 7/2
Explanation
/ performs true division and returns 3.5 as a float.
In Python, the single-slash (/) operator performs true division (also known as float division). This means it always returns a floating-point number that represents the exact result of the division, including any fractional part. Therefore, 7 / 2 evaluates to 3.5.
The other options produce different results:
A. int(7/2): This expression first calculates 7 / 2 to get the float 3.5. Then, the int() function is applied, which truncates the decimal part, resulting in the integer 3. The final result is an integer, not the correct floating-point value.
B. float(7//2): This expression first performs floor division with 7 // 2, which divides and rounds the result down to the nearest whole number, yielding the integer 3. The float() function then converts this integer to a float, resulting in 3.0. This is a float, but it is not the correct result of the division.
C. 7//2: The double-slash (//) operator performs floor division, which always results in an integer (or a float if one of the operands is a float, but the value is still rounded down). In this case, it produces the integer 3.
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