Time for action – using Python as a calculator

We can use Python as a calculator as follows:

1. In a Python shell, add 2 and 2 as follows:

   >>> 2 + 2
   4
   

2. Multiply 2 and 2 as follows:

   >>> 2 * 2
   4
   

3. Divide 2 and 2 as follows:

   >>> 2/2
   1
   

4. If you have programmed before, you probably know that dividing is a bit tricky since there are different types of dividing. For a calculator, the result is usually adequate, but the following division may not be what you were expecting:

   >>> 3/2
   1
   

   We will discuss what this result is about in several later chapters of this book. Take the cube of 2 as follows:

   >>> 2 ** 3
   8
   

What just happened?

We used the Python shell as a calculator and performed addition, multiplication, division, and exponentiation.