Python Numeric Data Types – Int, Float, Complex

Let us dig into Python numeric data types.

As we have seen, a python number can be- Python int, Python float, or even Python complex number.

Long is no longer supported by Python 3.x.

So, let’s begin with the python number types tutorial.

Python Numeric Data Types

A number is an arithmetic entity that lets us measure something.

Python allows us to store the integer, floating, and complex numbers and also lets us convert between them.

Since Python is dynamically-typed, there is no need to specify the type of data for a variable.

So now let’s start with python number types.

• None- The None keyword indicates the absence of value.

Python int

Python can hold signed integers.

>>> a=7
>>> a

Output

It can hold a value of any length, the only limitation being the amount of memory available.

>>> a=9999999999999999999999999999999999999
>>> a

Output

There are three int types of Python number types:

1. Python type() function

It takes one argument, and returns which class it belongs to.

>>> a=9999999999999999999999999999999999999
>>> type(a)

Output

2. Python isinstance() function

It takes two arguments. The first is the construct(ex- a variable or a list), and the second is a class.

It returns True or False based on whether the construct belongs to that class.

Suppose we want to check if ‘a’ belongs to class bool. We write the following code for the same.

>>> isinstance(a,bool)

Output

Since it belongs to the class ‘int’ instead, it returns False.

3. Python Exponential numbers

You can write an exponential number using the letter ‘e’ between the mantissa and the exponent.

>>> print(2e5)

200000.0

Remember that this is power of 10. To raise a number to another’s power, we use the ** operator.

Python float

Python also supports floating-point real values. An int cannot store the value of the mathematical constant pi, but a float can.

>>> from math import pi
>>> pi

Output

>>> type(pi)

Output

A float value is only accurate upto 15 decimal places. After that, it rounds the number off.

>>> a=1.1111111111111111119
>>> a

Output

Note that division results in floats.

>>> 2/2

Output

Python Complex Numbers

A complex number is a Python number type made of real and imaginary parts. It is represented as a+bj.

>>> a=2+3j
>>> a

Output

1. Coefficient to the imaginary part

Here, 2 is the real part, and 3j is the imaginary part.

To denote the irrational part, however, you can’t use the letter ‘i’, like you would do on paper.

>>> a=2+3i

Output

Also, it is mandatory to provide a coefficient to the imaginary part.

>>> a=2+j

Output

In this case, a coefficient of 1 will do.

>>> a=2+1j
>>> a

Output

2. Operations on complex numbers

Finally, you can perform the basic operations on complex numbers too.

>>> a=2+3j
>>> b=2+5j
>>> a+b

Output

>>> a*=2
>>> a

Output

Here, *= is an in-place assignment operator.

Any Doubt yet in Python number Type? Please Comment.

Writing numbers in binary, octal, and hexadecimal in Python

More often than not, programmers need to deal with numbers other than decimal. To do this, you can use appropriate prefixes.

Number System	Prefix
Binary	0b or 0B
Octal	0o or 0O
Hexadecimal	0x or 0X

1. Binary Numbers in Python

When you want to write a binary number, use the prefix 0b or 0B. For example, we know that the binary for 7 is 111.

>>> print(0b111)

Output

You can also apply conversion functions on these numbers.

>>> int(0b10)

Output

2. Octal Numbers in Python

The prefix for octal is 0o or 0O.

>>> print(0O10)

Output

The following code causes an error. This is because the octal number system does not have the number 8. It has the numbers 0-7.

>>> print(0O8)

Output

>>> float(0B10)

Output

3. Hexadecimal Numbers in Python

The hexadecimal number system has numbers 0-9 and then A-F. For that, use the prefix 0x or 0X.

>>> print(0xFF)

Output

>>> print(0xFE)

Output

Python Conversion Functions

Although most times Python does the conversion as needed, you can do it explicitly if you want.

These functions allow us to convert one numeric type into another python numeric data types.

1. int() in Python

Python int() function can convert another numeric type into an int.

It can also convert other types into an int, but in this tutorial, we focus on numeric types.

>>> int(7)

Output

>>> int(7.7)

Output

As you can see, it does not round the number 7.7 up to 8; it truncates the 0.7.

However, you cannot convert a complex number into an int.

>>> int(2+3j)

Output

>>> int(3j)

Output

We can also apply this function on representations other than decimal, i.e., binary, octal, and hexadecimal.

>>> int(0b10)

Output

>>> int(0xF)

Output

2. float() in Python

This function converts another numeric type into a float.

>>> float(110)

Output

>>> float(110.0)

Output

Like int(), float() can’t convert a complex either.

>>> float(3j)

Output

>>> float(0o10)

Output

Here, we applied it to an octal number.

3. complex() in Python

The complex() function converts another numeric type into a complex number.

>>> complex(2)

Output

>>> complex(2.3)

Output

>>> complex(2+3.0j)

Output

4. bin() in Python

The bin() function returns the binary value of a number.

>>> bin(2)

Output

However, you can’t apply it to a float value or a complex value. The same is true for oct() and hex() functions too.

>>> bin(2.3)

Output

>>> bin(2+3j)

Output

5. oct() in Python

This function returns the octal value of a number.

>>> oct(8)

Output

We know that 8.0 is the same as 8, but the function doesn’t think the same. It is a float, so it cannot convert it into an oct.

>>> oct(8.0)

Output

6. hex() in Python

The hex() function returns the hexadecimal value of a number.

>>> hex(255)

Output

>>> hex(0)

Output

>>> hex(0)

Output

Python Decimal Module

Let’s try out adding 1.1 and 2.2 in the shell, and let’s compare it with 3.3.

>>> (1.1+2.2)==3.3

Output

Why did it return False? Let’s try printing the sum.

>>> 1.1+2.2

Output

Woah, how did this happen? Well, this is duly attributed to hardware limitations, and is not a flaw of Python.

Because the hardware stores decimals as binary fractions, it isn’t possible to store it very accurately.

Let’s take an example.

>>> 1/3

Output

When we divide 1 by 3, it doesn’t return the full value, which is 0.3333333333333333… Python does provide a solution to this problem.

It has the ‘decimal’ module, which lets us choose precision. We will learn about modules in a later lesson.

>>> import decimal
>>> print(decimal.Decimal(0.1))

Output

Did you see what happened here? The Decimal() function preserved the significance.

This was the Decimal Function Python number type.

Fractions Module in Python

Another module that Python provides, the fractions module lets you deal with fractions.

The Fraction() function returns the value in the form of numerator and denominator.

>>> from fractions import Fraction
>>> print(Fraction(1.5))

Output

It can also take two arguments.

>>> print(Fraction(1,3))

Output

Math Module in Python

Another essential module in Python is the math module.

It has all important mathematical functions like exp, trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions, factorial, and more.

>>> import math
>>> math.factorial(5)

Output

>>> math.exp(3)

Output

>>> math.tan(90)

Output

This was all about the Python number types tutorial.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we learnt about Python numeric data types.

We looked at int, float, and complex numbers. We also looked at how to write numbers in binary, octal, and hexadecimal representations.

Then we looked at how to convert one numeric type into another in Python.

We also looked at some important modules- decimal, fractions, math. Hope you like the Python Number Type Tutorial.