C# Basics

Operators and Math

Operators combine values into expressions. C# follows the usual math rules, with one surprise for beginners: dividing two integers drops the fraction.

How it works

Use arithmetic, assignment, comparison and logical operators in C#, plus the Math class.

17 / 5 is 3 because both operands are int; 17 / 5.0 keeps the decimals. Comparisons and && / || produce bool values, and Math offers Pow, Round, Sqrt and more.

Runnable C# example

C#
Run code →
Program.cs
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        int a = 17, b = 5;

        Console.WriteLine($"a + b = {a + b}");
        Console.WriteLine($"a - b = {a - b}");
        Console.WriteLine($"a * b = {a * b}");
        Console.WriteLine($"a / b = {a / b}");        // int / int drops the fraction
        Console.WriteLine($"a % b = {a % b}");        // remainder
        Console.WriteLine($"a / 5.0 = {a / 5.0}");    // a double operand keeps it

        int total = 10;
        total += 5;
        total *= 2;
        Console.WriteLine($"total = {total}");

        int count = 0;
        count++;
        Console.WriteLine($"count = {count}");

        // Comparison and logical operators produce bool values.
        Console.WriteLine($"a > b: {a > b}, a == 17: {a == 17}");
        Console.WriteLine($"a > 10 && b > 10: {a > 10 && b > 10}");
        Console.WriteLine($"a > 10 || b > 10: {a > 10 || b > 10}");

        // Math holds common functions.
        Console.WriteLine($"Math.Pow(2, 10) = {Math.Pow(2, 10)}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Math.Round(3.14159, 2) = {Math.Round(3.14159, 2)}");
    }
}
Expected output
a + b = 22
a - b = 12
a * b = 85
a / b = 3
a % b = 2
a / 5.0 = 3.4
total = 30
count = 1
a > b: True, a == 17: True
a > 10 && b > 10: False
a > 10 || b > 10: True
Math.Pow(2, 10) = 1024
Math.Round(3.14159, 2) = 3.14

Practice with the debugger

Set a breakpoint on an important assignment or condition, click Debug, and inspect the local values before stepping to the next line.

Practice with a challenge

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