In this blog post, we are going to discuss the python math module that plays a vital role in computing mathematical problems. math() module is the python built-in module that provides access to the mathematical functions defined by the C standard. We will be discussing some important mathematical functions provided by the math module one by one.
For using the math module in the program, simply import the module from the header section of the python program using
import math
All the examples shown below have been done in python version 3.9.4. For checking your python version simply enter this command in your working terminal
C:/>python --version
Note: All the return values of mathematical functions in the python math module are of float types except when explicitly noted
Mathematical Functions
Various mathematical functions provided by the math module which make our work away a lot better and easier are:
math.floor(x)
This function returns the largest integer value less than or equal to x that is floor function will always give the lowest integer value of the given number x. If an input is an integer, then the same integer number is returned.
>>> import math >>> math.floor(2.7) 2 >>> math.floor(2.5) 2 >>> math.floor(2.2) 2
math.ceil(x)
This function returns the smallest integer value greater than or equal to x i.e ceil function will always give the highest integer value of the given number x. If an input is an integer, then the same integer number is returned.
>>> import math >>> math.floor(2.7) 3 >>> math.floor(2.5) 3 >>> math.floor(2.2) 3
math.sqrt(x)
This function returns the square root in the float of the given number x whether it is integer or float. The output is always in float whether an input is an integer of float.
>>> import math >>> math.sqrt(25) 5.0 >>> math.sqrt(225.0) 15.0 >>> math.sqrt(1457) 38.17066936798463 >>> math.sqrt(0.36) 0.6
math.pow(x, y)
This function returns the x raised to the power y. Alternative to this function is a built-in ** operator. We can use any of them and they both return value in float type.
>>> import math >>> math.pow(2, 3) 8.0 >>> math.pow(5.5, 2) 30.25 >>> math.pow(2.5, 4) 39.0625 >>> math.pow(2.6, 2.2) 8.183542939727342 >>> 2.6 ** 2.2 8.183542939727342
math.factorial(x)
This function returns the factorial of x as an integer value. It throws a ValueError error if the input number is not an integer or is negative.
>>> import math >>> math.factorial(0) 1 >>> math.factorial(5) 120 >>> math.factorial(12) 479001600
math.fabs(x)
This function returns the absolute value of x.
>>> import math >>> math.fabs(-4.5) 4.5 >>> math.fabs(-77) 77.0 >>> math.fabs(7654) 7654.0
math.gcd(*integers)
This function returns the greatest common divisor for any number of integers. Previously below python version 3.9, this function takes only two arguments.
Note: if do not place any arguments, then gcd() returns 0
>>> import math >>> math.gcd(4, 8) 4 >>> math.gcd(12,24,6) 6 >>> math.gcd(45,56,78) 1 >>> math.gcd() 0
math.lcm(*integers)
This function returns the least common multiple for any number of integers. lcm() is introduced from python version 3.9
Note: if do not place any arguments, then lcm() returns 1
>>> import math >>> math.lcm(7, 49) 49 >>> math.lcm(5,55,255) 2805 >>> math.lcm() 1
math.copysign(x, y)
This function returns the absolute float value of x but with the sign of y.
>>> import math >>> math.copysign(-4.5, 7) 4.5 >>> math.copysign(-4, -7) -4.0 >>> math.copysign(-9.8, -0.0) -9.8
math.perm(n, k=None)
This function returns the number of ways to choose k number of items from n items such that k <= n with order and without repetition.
Note: perm( ) returns TypeError if any of the arguments are not integers and if any argument value is negative it raises ValueError. If we do not mention the second argument value, it simply determines the factorial of n(n!).
>>> import math >>> math.perm(4, 2) 12 >>> math.perm(4) 24 >>> math.perm(4.0, 2.0) Traceback (most recent call last): File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> TypeError: 'float' object cannot be interpreted as an integer >>> math.perm(4, -2) Traceback (most recent call last): File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> ValueError: k must be a non-negative integer
math.fmod(x, y)
This function returns the remainder of x / y. We also have x % y in python, but it does not give the same result as fmod( ). fmod( ) is preferred when working with floats whereas x % y is preferred when working with integers.
>>> import math >>> math.fmod(75, 7) 5.0 >>> math.fmod(78.5, 8.5) 2.0 >>> 78.5 % 8.5 2.0 >>> 10 % 3 1
math.frexp(x)
This function returns the mantissa and the exponent of x in the form of (m, e) where m is a float type and e is an integer type. x is equal to
m * (2 ** e) .
>>> import math >>> math.frexp(9) (0.5625, 4) >>> math.frexp(8.0) (0.5, 4) >>> math.frexp(256) (0.5, 9)
math.fsum(iterable)
This function returns the sum of all items in any type of iterable such as lists or tuples or sets.
>>> import math
>>> math.fsum([0.5, 0.5, 1, 2.0, 1])
5.0
>>> math.fsum((0.5, 0.5, 1, 2.0, 1))
5.0
>>> math.fsum({1, 2, 3, 4, 5})
15.0
math.prod(iterable, start=1)
This function returns the product of all items in any type of iterable such as lists or tuples or sets. The default start value is 1. If we input an empty iterable, then the output is the start value.
>>> import math
>>> math.prod([1, 2, 3], start=4)
24
>>> math.prod([])
1
>>> math.prod((4, 5, 6), start=1)
120
>>> math.prod({1, 2, 3})
6
math.isfinite(x)
This function returns true if x is a finite number else returns false.
>>> import math
>>> math.isfinite(0.0)
True
>>> math.isfinite(22/7)
True
>>> math.isfinite(float('nan'))
False
>>> math.isfinite(float('inf'))
False
>>> math.isfinite(float('-inf'))
False
math.isnan(x)
This function returns true if x is NaN(Not a Number) else false.
>>> import math
>>> math.isnan(float('nan'))
True
>>> math.isnan(78.7)
False
>>> math.isnan(float('inf'))
False
math.exp(x)
This function returns the value e ** x where e is the base of natural logarithms which is equal to 2.7182818….
>>> import math >>> math.exp(2) 7.38905609893065 >>> math.exp(0.69) 1.9937155332430823 >>> math.exp(6) 403.4287934927351
math.dist(p, q)
This function returns the euclidean distance between points p and q.
>>> import math >>> math.dist([4, 5], [6, 7]) 2.8284271247461903 >>> math.dist((2.5, 3), (3.5, 5.5)) 2.6925824035672523
Logarithmic Functions
math.log(x)
This function with one argument returns the natural logarithm of the number x. With two arguments i.e log(x, y) returns the logarithm of x to the given base y.
>>> import math >>> math.log(4) 1.3862943611198906 >>> math.log(4, 2) 2.0
math.log1p(x)
This function returns the natural logarithm of 1 + x.
>>> import math >>> math.log1p(4) 1.6094379124341003 >>> math.log1p(15) 2.772588722239781
math.log2(x)
This function returns the base-2 logarithm of x.
>>> import math >>> math.log2(55) 5.78135971352466 >>> math.log2(77) 6.266786540694901
math.log10(x)
This function returns the base-10 logarithm of x.
>>> import math >>> math.log10(77) 1.8864907251724818 >>> math.log10(10) 1.0 >>> math.log10(100) 2.0
Trigonometric Functions
math.asin(x) : Returns the arc sine of x in radians -1 and 1 .
math.atan(x) : Returns the arc tangent of x in radians between -PI/2 and PI/2.
math.acos(x) : Returns the arc cosine of x in radians between -1 and 1.
math.sin(x) : Returns the sine of x in radians.
math.cos(x) : Returns the cosine of x in radians.
math.tan(x) : Returns the tangent of x in radians.
>>> import math >>> math.atan(60) 1.554131203080956 >>> math.acos(1) 0.0 >>> math.asin(1) 1.5707963267948966 >>> math.sin(45) 0.8509035245341184 >>> math.cos(45) 0.5253219888177297 >>> math.tan(90) -1.995200412208242
Constant Functions
math.pi: Returns the value of PI.
math.e: Returns the value of mathematical constant e.
math.tau: Returns the value of tau(a circle constant equal to 2*PI).
math.inf: Returns the floating-point positive infinity. For negative infinity use -math.inf.
math.nan : Returns a floating-point not a number(NaN) value.
>>> import math >>> math.pi 3.141592653589793 >>> math.e 2.718281828459045 >>> math.tau 6.283185307179586 >>> math.inf inf >>> -math.inf -inf >>> math.nan nan
Conversion Functions
math.degrees(x)
This function converts the angle x from radians to degrees.
>>> import math >>> math.degrees(45) 2578.3100780887044 >>> math.degrees(22/7) 180.07244989825872
math.radians(x)
This function converts the angle x from degrees to radians.
>>> import math >>> math.radians(45) 0.7853981633974483 >>> math.radians(22/7) 0.05485320506267893 >>> math.radians(90) 1.5707963267948966 one
Conclusion
We discussed almost all python math module functions. This module helps us to perform the mathematical tasks easily and we have to take the advantage of it, by using it wisely rather than making our own mathematical functions.
As the functions provided by this module are more accurate than those created manually, we should familiar to use those functions in the python program.
If you want to learn more about other functions then visit the python official documentation of math module.
Happy Learning 🙂
