How to Find Remainder in Python

In this post, we will look at various ways to find the remainder of a division operation in Python.

The most popular method for finding a remainder in Python is using the modulo operator, %. It is the official Python remainder operator and it returns the remainder of the division of one number by another. For example, the expression 10 % 3 would evaluate to 1 because 3 goes into 10 three times with a remainder of 1.

However, apart from the modulo operator, %, you can also utilize other techniques, such as the divmod() and math.fmod() functions.

The ways to find the remainder of a division operation in Python that we will cover in this post are:

1. Using the % operator
2. Using the divmod() function
3. Using the math.fmod() function
4. Using the math.remainder() function

We will go over the syntax for each method, some examples of how to use them, and their advantages.

Table of Contents

• Method 1: Using the % operator
• Method 2: Using the divmod() function
• Method 3: Using the math.fmod() function
• Method 4: Using the remainder() function
• Conclusion

Method 1: Using the % operator

The % operator, known as the modulo operator or remainder operator, is a mathematical operator that is used to find the remainder of a division operation. It is similar to the division operator (/), but instead of returning the quotient of the division, it returns the remainder.

Here are some examples of using the % operator to find the remainder in Python:

>>> 7 % 3
1
>>> 9 % 5
4
>>> 12 % 2
0

The % operator takes in two operands: the dividend and the divisor. The dividend is the number being divided, and the divisor is the number that the dividend is being divided by. The % operator returns the remainder of the division operation as a result.

In the first example, the divisor is 3, and the dividend is 7. This division operation’s remainder is 1, hence the % operator returns 1.

Overall, the % operator is a simple and straightforward way to find the remainder of a division operation in Python. It is commonly used for this purpose and is easy to understand and use.

Method 2: Using the divmod() function

The Python divmod() function is a built-in function that takes two numbers as inputs—the dividend and the divisor—and outputs a tuple that contains the quotient and remainder of the division operation.

Here are some examples of using the divmod() function to find the remainder:

>>> divmod(8, 2)
(4, 0)
>>> divmod(9, 4)
(2, 1)
>>> divmod(17, 4)
(4, 1)

The first example has a divisor of 3, and the dividend is 7. The divmod() method performs a division and returns the quotient and the remainder, which in this case are 2 and 1, as a tuple.

All in all, Python’s built-in divmond() function is the best function to use when you want to find both the quotient and the remainder all at the same time.

Method 3: Using the math.fmod() function

Finding the remainder in Python can also be done using the fmod() function, which is a component of the math module. It is, of course, similar to the % operator, except it calculates remainders in accordance with the C programming language’s principles.

To use the math.fmod() function, you will need to import the math module first.

Here are some examples of using the math.fmod() function to find the remainder:

>>> import math
>>> math.fmod(5, 2)
1.0
>>> math.fmod(11, 7)
4.0
>>> math.fmod(13, 5)
3.0

In the first example, the dividend is 5 and the divisor is 2. The math.fmod() function returns the remainder of the division operation which is 1.

Method 4: Using the remainder() function

The math module’s remainder() method is the fourth function that can be used to determine the remainder of a division operation. It is similar to the fmod() function, except it calculates remainders in accordance with IEEE 754 standards.

The remainder() method requires the math module to be imported before it can be used, just like the fmod() function does. The method can then be used as shown in the following examples:

>>> import math
>>> math.remainder(8, 3)
2.0
>>> math.remainder(13, 5)
4.0
>>> math.remainder(11, 3)
2.0

In the last example, the dividend is 11 and the divisor is 3. The math.remainder() function returns the remainder of the division operation which is 1.

In general, Python’s math.remainder() method is also helpful for determining the remainder of a division operation. It is part of the math module and calculates remainders in accordance with IEEE 754 standards. It is similar to the math.fmod() function, but in some circumstances, where adhering to the IEEE 754 standard is desired, it might be more preferable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, finding the remainder is made simple and straightforward by using the % operator, which is why it is widely utilized for this task. The divmod() method returns a tuple that contains the division operation’s quotient and remainder. Both the fmod() and remainder() functions are found in the math module; however, the former follows the C programming language’s rules, while the latter adheres to the IEEE 754 standard.

The methods I’ve mentioned above are all great ways for finding the remainder of a division operation. The one you’ll choose depends on your unique needs and preferences for the project you’ll building.