Arithmetic Expressions

1 Introduction

This document describes the arithmetic operators which are supported in expressions. These all work on numeric data types (Integer/Long and Decimal).

2 Multiplication

Multiplies two numbers.

2.1 Input parameters

The input parameters are described in the table below:

2.2 Output

If the two inputs are both of type Integer/Long, the result is of type Integer/Long.

If either of the two inputs is of type Decimal, the result is of type Decimal.

2.3 Example

If you use the following input:

2*3

The output is:

6

3 Division

Divides two numbers. You can use either the div or colon ( : ) syntax, as can be seen below in the examples. The colon ( : ) syntax is inspired by the divide symbol ÷. We cannot use the more conventional slash ( / ) syntax because that would conflict with the slash which is used for separating objects and members.

3.1 Input Parameters

The input parameters are described in the table below:

3.2 Output

If either of the two inputs is of type Decimal, the result is of type Decimal.

3.3 Example

Find the example of usages below:

• The div syntax example: if you use the following input:

  3 div 5

The output is:

  0.6

• : syntax example: if you use the following input:

  12 : 3

The output is:

  4.0

3.4 Remarks

The result of a division is only an approximation if it has an infinite decimal expansion. The two examples below illustrate this approximation:

• If you use the following input:

  3 : 7
  

  the output is:

  0.4285714285714285714285714285714286
  

  If you continue a calculation with the results of a division, the results might be unexpected. The following input:

  (3 : 7) * 7
  

  results in the output below:

  3.0000000000000000000000000000000002
  

• If you use the following input:

  ceil((3 : 7) * 7)
  

  the output is:

  4
  

Therefore, it is recommended to do division operations last.

4 Modulo

Calculates the remainder of the division of one number by another. In other words, m modulo n corresponds to: m = p + k*n, where p is the result of the operation m modulo n.

4.1 Input Parameters

The input parameters are described in the table below:

4.2 Output

If the two inputs are both of type Integer/Long, the result is of type Integer/Long.

If either of the two inputs is of type Decimal, the result is of type Decimal.

4.3 Example

If you use the following input:

23 mod 5

the output is:

3

5 Addition

Adds two numbers.

For the use of the addition symbol for string concatenation, see String function calls.

5.1 Input Parameters

The input parameters are described in the table below:

5.2 Output

If the two inputs are both of type Integer/Long, the result is of type Integer/Long.

If either of the two inputs is of type Decimal, the result is of type Decimal.

5.3 Example

If you use the following input:

-3 + 4

the output is:

1

6 Subtraction

Subtracts the second input from the first.

6.1 Input Parameters

The input parameters are described in the table below:

6.2 Output

If the two inputs are both of type Integer/Long, the result is of type Integer/Long.

If either of the two inputs is of type Decimal, the result is of type Decimal.

6.3 Example

If you use the following input:

5 - 4

the output is:

1