CHAPTER 7 — Numbers & Maths in Python

CHAPTER 7 — Numbers & Maths in Python - Printable Version

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CHAPTER 7 — Numbers & Maths in Python - Leejohnston - 11-15-2025

Chapter 7 — Numbers & Maths in Python
How Python works with integers, decimals, and calculations

Python can handle numbers just as easily as it handles text.
In this chapter, we learn:

• whole numbers (integers)
• decimals (floats)
• arithmetic operators
• rounding
• mathematical shortcuts
• order of operations
• simple errors beginners often make

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7.1 Types of Numbers

Python uses two main number types:

Integers (int)
Whole numbers:

Code:
5, 42, -10, 0

Floats (float)
Decimals:

Code:
3.14, -2.5, 0.001

Python chooses automatically based on what you write.

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7.2 Basic Arithmetic

Python can do all standard maths:

Code:
print(5 + 3)  # addition

print(9 - 2)  # subtraction

print(4 * 7)  # multiplication

print(20 / 5)  # division

Division always returns a float.

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7.3 Floor Division & Remainder

Sometimes you need whole-number division.

Floor division cuts off decimals:

Code:
print(17 // 5)  # 3

Modulo gives the remainder:

Code:
print(17 % 5)    # 2

Together, these answer questions like:
• how many items fit in a box?
• what’s left over?

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7.4 Powers & Roots

Exponent (power):

Code:
print(3 ** 4)  # 81

Square root:

Code:
print(25 ** 0.5)

Or using math library:

Code:
import math

print(math.sqrt(25))

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7.5 Order of Operations (BIDMAS)

Python follows BIDMAS:

Brackets
Indices
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction

Example:

Code:
print(4 + 2 * 10)

Result:

Code:
24

Because multiplication happens before addition.

Force your own order with brackets:

Code:
print((4 + 2) * 10)

Now result:

Code:
60

---

7.6 Rounding Numbers

Use `round()`:

Code:
print(round(3.14159))        # 3

print(round(3.14159, 2))    # 3.14

Second argument = how many decimal places.

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7.7 Converting Between Types

User input always arrives as a string.
Convert to a number using:

Code:
age = int(input("Enter your age: "))

height = float(input("Enter your height: "))

Convert number → string with:

Code:
str(number)

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7.8 Avoiding Common Mistakes

❌ ERROR:

Code:
print("Age: " + 18)

✔ FIX:

Code:
print("Age: " + str(18))

❌ ERROR:
Forgetting brackets in BIDMAS.

✔ FIX:
Use clear grouping:

Code:
total = (price * quantity) + tax

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7.9 Mini Project — Simple Calculator

Create a file called calculator.py.

Ask the user for two numbers.
Then print:

• sum
• difference
• product
• division

Example:

Code:
Enter first number: 12

Enter second number: 5

Sum: 17

Difference: 7

Product: 60

Division: 2.4

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7.10 Challenge — The Taxi Meter

Write a program that calculates a taxi cost using:

• base fare: 3.00
• £1.40 per km
• values rounded to 2 decimals

User enters:
• distance travelled

Output:
"Your total fare is: £X.XX"

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7.11 Chapter Summary

• int = whole number
• float = decimal
• + - * / are standard operations
• // gives whole-number division
• % gives remainder
• ** powers a number
• round() controls decimal places
• input() always gives a string — convert it!
• Use brackets to avoid errors

Next:
Chapter 8 — Variables & Naming Rules

You’ll learn how professionals name and structure the moving parts of their programs.

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Written and Compiled by Lee Johnston — Founder of The Lumin Archive