Arithmetic

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JavaScript Arithmetic

Arithmetic operators perform arithmetic on numbers (literals or variables). Standard mathematical order (PEMDAS/BODMAS) applies to these calculations.

1. Basic Operators

OperatorDescription
+Addition
-Subtraction
*Multiplication
**Exponentiation (ES2016)
/Division
%Modulus (Division Remainder)
++Increment
--Decrement

2. Modulus (Remainder)

The modulus operator (%) returns the division remainder.
let x = 5; let y = 2; let z = x % y; // z will be 1

3. Exponentiation

The exponentiation operator (**) raises the first operand to the power of the second operand.
let x = 5; let z = x ** 2; // z will be 25

4. Increment and Decrement

The increment operator (++) increments numbers. The decrement operator (--) decrements numbers.
let x = 5; x++; let z = x; // z is 6 let y = 5; y--; let w = y; // w is 4

5. Operator Precedence

Operator precedence describes the order in which operations are performed in an arithmetic expression.
let x = 100 + 50 * 3; // Multiplication has higher precedence, so it is (50 * 3) + 100 = 250
When using parentheses, the operations inside the parentheses are computed first:
let x = (100 + 50) * 3; // (150) * 3 = 450
Always use parentheses when you want to be sure of the calculation order. It also makes the code easier to read for other developers.

Top Interview Questions

?Interview Question

Q:What does the modulus (%) operator do?
A:
The modulus operator returns the remainder after a division. For example, 10 % 3 results in 1 because 3 goes into 10 three times with 1 left over.

?Interview Question

Q:How do you calculate 2 to the power of 3 in modern JS?
A:
You can use the exponentiation operator (**): 2 ** 3. Alternatively, you can use Math.pow(2, 3).

?Interview Question

Q:Which arithmetic operation has higher precedence: Addition or Multiplication?
A:
Multiplication has higher precedence than addition. In the expression 5 + 2 * 3, the multiplication (2 * 3) happens first.

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