JavaScript Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators do math with numbers.

You already know most of these from school.

Think of a toy cash register. Plus and minus move the total.

Addition and subtraction

+ adds. - subtracts.

Multiplication and division

* multiplies. / divides.

Division can give a decimal.

Remainder

% gives what is left after dividing.

Think of sharing 10 cookies with 3 friends. Each gets 3. One cookie is left.

Exponent

** means raised to a power.

2 ** 3 means 2 times 2 times 2.

Increment and decrement

++ adds one. -- subtracts one.

These are handy counters in games and loops.

Order of work

JavaScript follows math order.

Multiply and divide happen before add and subtract, unless parentheses say otherwise.

Tip: Use parentheses when the order might confuse a reader. Clear beats clever.