True division

Definition

True division is the division operation that returns a floating-point result, even if both operands are integers. It is performed using the single forward slash operator (/).

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. True division is represented by the single forward slash (/) in Python.
2. It always returns a float, regardless of whether the inputs are integers or floats.
3. In Python, 5 / 2 will yield 2.5, not 2.
4. True division was introduced to ensure more accurate mathematical computations.
5. To obtain integer division results instead of true division, use the double forward slash operator (//).

Review Questions

• What operator is used for true division in Python?
• What type of value does true division return when dividing two integers?
• How would you write a code snippet in Python to divide 7 by 3 using true division?

Related terms

Floor Division: An operation that divides two numbers and rounds down to the nearest integer. Represented by //.

Modulo: An operation that returns the remainder after division. Represented by %.

Floating-Point Number: A number that has a decimal point or is in exponential form.