Operators in Python

What are Operators?

Operators are symbols that perform operations on values (called operands). 5 + 3 uses the + operator on operands 5 and 3.

Arithmetic Operators

Comparison Operators

Return True or False: == (equal), != (not equal), >, <, >=, <=.

Logical Operators

and (both true), or (at least one true), not (reverse).

Assignment Operators

= assigns. Shortcuts: +=, -=, *=, /=. So x += 5 means x = x + 5.

Program 1: Arithmetic

a = 17
b = 5
print("Sum      :", a + b)
print("Quotient :", a // b)
print("Remainder:", a % b)
print("Power    :", a ** 2)

• // gives the whole-number part of division (3, not 3.4).
• % gives the remainder (17 = 5*3 + 2).
• ** is power: 17 squared = 289.

Program 2: Comparison & Logical

age = 20
has_id = True
print(age >= 18)               # comparison
print(age >= 18 and has_id)    # both must be true
print(age < 13 or has_id)      # one true is enough
print(not has_id)              # reverse

• and needs both sides true.
• or is true if any side is true.
• not flips True to False.

Program 3: Even/Odd & Leap Year

num = int(input("Enter a number: "))

# Even/Odd using modulus
if num % 2 == 0:
    print(num, "is Even")
else:
    print(num, "is Odd")

# Leap year check using logical operators
year = int(input("Enter a year: "))
is_leap = (year % 4 == 0 and year % 100 != 0) or (year % 400 == 0)
print(year, "leap year?", is_leap)

• num % 2 == 0 is the classic even-number test.
• The leap-year rule combines and, or and != in one expression.

Operator Precedence

Python follows BODMAS-like rules: ** first, then * / // %, then + -, then comparisons, then not, and, or. Use brackets to be safe: (a + b) * c.

Common Mistakes

• Using = (assign) instead of == (compare) in conditions.
• Expecting / to give a whole number — use // for that.
• Writing &&/|| (C style) instead of and/or.

Practice Tasks

1. Take two numbers and print all 7 arithmetic results.
2. Check if a number is divisible by both 3 and 5 using and.
3. Ask age and check eligibility to vote (>= 18).
4. Swap two numbers using += style operators.

Summary

• Arithmetic: + - * / // % **.
• Comparison returns bool; logical: and or not.
• % for even/odd, // for whole-number division.
• Use brackets to control precedence.