A Quick Note on Python Math

Python has a set of built-in mathematical functions, and also a math module that provides more advanced mathematical functions. In this note, we’ll explore both.

Built-in Math Functions

Python has a few built-in functions that are useful for mathematical operations.

• min() and max(): Find the lowest or highest value in an iterable.
• abs(): Returns the absolute (positive) value of a number.
• pow(x, y): Returns the value of x to the power of y.

print(min(5, 10, 25))  # 5
print(max(5, 10, 25))  # 25
print(abs(-7.25))    # 7.25
print(pow(4, 3))     # 64

The math Module

For more advanced mathematical functions, you need to import the math module.

import math

Common math Module Functions

Here are some of the most commonly used functions in the math module:

• math.sqrt(): Returns the square root of a number.
• math.ceil(): Rounds a number upwards to its nearest integer.
• math.floor(): Rounds a number downwards to its nearest integer.

print(math.sqrt(64))   # 8.0
print(math.ceil(1.4))  # 2
print(math.floor(1.4)) # 1

math Module Constants

The math module also provides some useful constants.

• math.pi: The mathematical constant Pi (3.1415…).
• math.e: The mathematical constant e (2.7182…).

print(math.pi)
print(math.e)

Conclusion

Python provides a solid foundation for mathematical operations with its built-in functions and the math module. Whether you’re performing simple calculations or more complex scientific computations, Python has the tools you need. For even more advanced mathematical and scientific operations, you can explore libraries like NumPy and SciPy.