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Python Comparison Solution

Posted by Tyler Marks
Tyler Marks
323 Points

why did he use the % sign for division i though that was used for a different function

that is the main part i struggled with is figuring out how to program the numbers right

3 Answers

Michael Hulet
Michael Hulet
47,913 Points
Michael Hulet
Michael Hulet
47,913 Points

The percent sign (%) is known as the "modulus operator". It does performs a division operation, but instead of giving you the quotient of the division, it gives you a remainder. For example:

7 % 2 == 1
8 % 2 == 0
3 % 4 == 3

To explain each of those:

  • 2 goes into 7 three times, with 1 left over
  • 2 goes into 8 evenly 4 times
  • 4 does not go into 3, so there's 3 left over

To perform a regular division operation in Python, you'd use one of 2 operators, depending on the behavior you want:

  • A single forward slash (/) performs a division like you'd expect, returning a decimal number of the exact result
  • A double forward slash (//) performs a division operation, but always rounds the result down to the nearest integer

For example:

7 / 2 == 3.5
7 // 2 == 3

8 / 2 == 4
8 // 2 == 4

3 / 4 == 0.75
3 // 4 == 0
Arnold Ganga
Arnold Ganga
1,698 Points
Arnold Ganga
Arnold Ganga
1,698 Points

He used %(modulus) instead of/(float division operator) or //(integer division operator)to check if the number is divisible by either 3 (is_fizz) or 5(is_buzz) without leaving a remainder for instance 9%3 = 0 which means 9 is a fizz number because it was divisible by 3 without leaving a remainder or 23%3= 2 which means 20 is not a fizz number because it was divided by and left 2 as a remainder

Sergio Andrés Herrera Velásquez
PLUS
Sergio Andrés Herrera Velásquez
Courses Plus Student 23,765 Points
Sergio Andrés Herrera Velásquez
Sergio Andrés Herrera Velásquez
Courses Plus Student 23,765 Points

Hi, I found this image https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/image-files/long-division-math.png which basically explains the long division, in the image, you will see that the number bottom is a "0", which means the number is an exact multiple of the divisor, otherwise, it would give a number other than "0" indicating that the dividend cannot be divided by the number that plays the divisor role.

In the case, we are examining if 3/3, 6/3 is something that would give us an exact number, (the results being 1 and 2, respectively) when we apply the 3%3 , we are checking for that number I mentioned earlier in the long division that shoul be equal to zero, giving place to either being a multiple or not of the condition provided, in case it is a number other than zero, then the number is not in compliance with the condition for the modulus.

Hope this helps a little to better understand the %(modulus) operator