1. What Are Python Number Types?

Before doing math, know the main number types in Python:

Integers (int)

Whole numbers with no decimals, for example 5, -10, 100. Use ints when counting or indexing.

Floating-point numbers (float)

Numbers with decimals, like 3.14 or -0.5. Use floats for averages, percentages, and measurements.

Complex numbers (complex)

Numbers with a real and imaginary part (e.g., 2 + 3j). These are used in advanced math or scientific code. Most beginners only need int and float.

2. Basic Arithmetic Operators in Python

These are the core operators you’ll use to do math:

Quick examples

a = 10
b = 3

print(a + b)   # 13
print(a - b)   # 7
print(a * b)   # 30
print(a / b)   # 3.3333333333333335  (float)
print(a // b)  # 3  (floor division)
print(a % b)   # 1  (remainder)
print(a ** b)  # 1000  (10 to the power of 3)

Note: The regular division operator / returns a float. If you expect an integer, use //.

3. Type Conversion & Useful Number Functions

You will often convert types or use built-in functions for numbers:

Type conversion (casting)

x = "5"
y = int(x)     # converts "5" to 5

z = 2.8
w = int(z)     # converts 2.8 to 2 (drops decimals)

Useful functions

• abs(number) – absolute value
• round(number, ndigits) – round to decimals
• pow(base, exponent) – power (or use **)

4. Common Pitfalls & Gotchas

These are mistakes many beginners make (I used to do these too):

Floating-point precision

print(0.1 + 0.2)   # 0.30000000000000004

Floats are stored in binary, which can create small rounding errors. For ordinary scripts this is usually fine; for money or critical calculations consider the decimal module.

Floor division with negatives

-5 // 2 gives -3 because floor division rounds down, not toward zero.

Mixing types

Mixing int, float, and complex can lead to automatic conversions (for example, int + float → float).

5. Simple Project: Mini Calculator

Try this small script to practice numbers and math operators:

def mini_calc():
    print("Welcome to Mini-Calculator")
    num1 = float(input("Enter first number: "))
    num2 = float(input("Enter second number: "))

    print("Addition: ", num1 + num2)
    print("Subtraction: ", num1 - num2)
    print("Multiplication: ", num1 * num2)
    print("Division: ", num1 / num2 if num2 != 0 else "Cannot divide by zero")
    print("Floor Division: ", num1 // num2 if num2 != 0 else "Undefined")
    print("Modulus (remainder): ", num1 % num2 if num2 != 0 else "Undefined")
    print("Power: ", num1 ** num2)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    mini_calc()

Run the script and test different values (negatives, floats, zeros) to observe behavior.

6. Why this knowledge helps

Understanding numbers and math operations helps in many areas: data analysis, scripts, web apps, budgeting tools and more. It saves debugging time and builds confidence to move on to loops, conditions, and data processing.

Final thoughts

Numbers and math operations are basic but essential. Practice small scripts, try different inputs, and you’ll quickly feel comfortable. If you want, I can prepare a printable cheat-sheet of number types and operators.

If you enjoyed learning about Python numbers, you might also like our next guide —

How to Work with Strings in Python (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

It’s a simple and clear tutorial that explains how to handle text in Python with practical examples.