C# 2010 All-in-One For Dummies®

Chapter 4. Smooth Operators

In This Chapter

• Performing a little arithmetic

• Doing some logical arithmetic

• Complicating matters with compound logical operators

Mathematicians create variables and manipulate them in various ways, adding them, multiplying them, and — here's a toughie — even integrating them. Chapter 2 of this minibook describes how to declare and define variables. However, it says little about how to use variables to get anything done after you declare them. This chapter looks at the operations you can perform on variables to do some work. Operations require operators, such as +, –, =, <, and &. I cover arithmetic, logical, and other types of operators in this chapter.

Tip

Writing programs that get things done is good. You'll never make it as a C# programmer if your programs don't do something — unless, of course, you're a consultant.

Performing Arithmetic

The set of arithmetic operators breaks down into several groups: the simple arithmetic operators, the assignment operators, and a set of special operators unique to programming. After you digest these, you also need to digest a separate set of logical operators. Bon appétit!

Simple operators

You most likely learned in elementary school how to use most of the simple operators. Table 4-1 lists them. Note: Computers use an asterisk (*), not the multiplication sign (×), for multiplication.

Table 4-1. Simple Operators

Operator	What It Means
− (unary)	Take the negative of
*	Multiply
/	Divide
+	Add
- (binary)	Subtract
%	Modulo

Most of these operators ...