Operators: Arithmetic Operators

Operators: Arithmetic Operators

Applies To: C++Builder 1 or higher
Category: C++ Language

Arithmetic operators are used to perform mathematical operations such as addition or subtraction:

+: addition

-: subtraction (or unary minus)

/: division

*: multiplication

%: modulus

These five operators, also called binary mathematical operators are the same as the ones found on a calculator. (Modulus returns the remainder of a division.)

There are also complex arithmetic operators such as increment and decrement.

++: increment

--: decrement

They allow you to subtract or add 1 to the current value. For example, x++; is the same as x = x + 1;

These two operators can placed before (prefix mode) or after (postfix mode) the variable name. When used in prefix mode, the increment / decrement operators modify the item before its use. When used in postfix mode, the increment / decrement operators modify the item after its use. For example:

x = 5;

y = x++;

In the previous example, y is 5 and x is 6. If you use now the prefix mode:

x = 5;

y = ++x;

x and y equal 6.

Complex expressions are evaluated in the following order:

Increment and decrement

Multiplication, division, and modulus

Addition and substraction

For example, the result of the following expression is 10:

x = 5 + 25 / 5;