Understanding Python Operators: Arithmetic, Comparison, and Logical

In Python, operators are special symbols or keywords used to perform operations on variables and values. Think of them as tools that let your code calculate, compare, or make decisions.

This guide will walk you through the three core types of basic operators in Python:

1. Arithmetic Operators
2. Comparison Operators
3. Logical Operators

Let’s explore each one with real-world scenarios and easy-to-understand examples.

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🧮 1. Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators are used to perform mathematical calculations, just like you do on a calculator.

Operator	Name	Description	Example	Result
+	Addition	Adds two values	5 + 3	8
-	Subtraction	Subtracts right value from left	10 - 2	8
*	Multiplication	Multiplies two values	4 * 6	24
/	Division	Divides left by right (returns float)	9 / 2	4.5
//	Floor Division	Divides and returns the whole number only	9 // 2	4
%	Modulus	Returns the remainder	10 % 3	1
**	Exponent	Raises to power	2 ** 3	8

📌 Example Code:

a = 12
b = 5

print("Addition:", a + b)        # 17
print("Subtraction:", a - b)     # 7
print("Multiplication:", a * b)  # 60
print("Division:", a / b)        # 2.4
print("Floor Division:", a // b) # 2
print("Modulus:", a % b)         # 2
print("Exponent:", a ** b)       # 248832

💡 Real-life Analogy:

If you have 10 candies and give 3 to each of your 3 friends:

• You’ve given away: 3 * 3 = 9 candies
• You’ll have: 10 - 9 = 1 candy left → This is where the modulus (%) operator helps!

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🔍 2. Comparison Operators

These operators are used to compare two values. The result is always either True or False. They are mostly used in if statements, loops, or condition checks.

Operator	Meaning	Example	Result
==	Equal to	5 == 5	True
!=	Not equal to	5 != 3	True
>	Greater than	8 > 6	True
<	Less than	4 < 2	False
>=	Greater than or equal to	7 >= 7	True
<=	Less than or equal to	5 <= 8	True

📌 Example Code:

age = 18

print(age == 18)   # True
print(age != 21)   # True
print(age > 16)    # True
print(age < 16)    # False
print(age >= 18)   # True
print(age <= 17)   # False

💡 Real-life Analogy:

If you’re checking if someone is old enough to vote:

age = 17
if age >= 18:
    print("You can vote")
else:
    print("You cannot vote yet")

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🔗 3. Logical Operators

Logical operators are used to combine multiple conditions. They help in decision-making by evaluating the truthiness of multiple expressions.

Operator	Meaning	Usage	Result
and	True if both conditions are true	True and True	True
or	True if at least one condition is true	True or False	True
not	Reverses the result	not True	False

📌 Example Code:

age = 20
has_id = True

# Using 'and'
if age >= 18 and has_id:
    print("You can enter the club")  # True

# Using 'or'
if age >= 18 or has_id:
    print("You can still enter")

# Using 'not'
is_banned = False
if not is_banned:
    print("Access granted")

💡 Real-life Analogy:

Imagine a login system:

• You can only log in if username and password are correct → Use and
• A coupon is applied if the user is a student or a first-time buyer → Use or
• A user is allowed if they are not banned → Use not

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✅ Final Summary

Type	Used For	Examples
Arithmetic	Math operations	+, -, *, /, %, **, //
Comparison	Check values	==, !=, <, >, <=, >=
Logical	Combine conditions	and, or, not

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🧠 Practice Tips:

• Try building a simple calculator using arithmetic operators.
• Create a login or age-checking system using comparison and logical operators.
• Use these in if-else conditions to get a feel for real-world logic in programming.

Let me know if you’d like me to turn this into a PDF guide or tutorial post!