Learn Understanding Numeric Types

Prerequisites

Introduction to Python

Numbers are everywhere in Python. You'll use two core numeric types most of the time: integers (int) for whole numbers and floating-point numbers (float) for decimals (including scientific notation like 1e-3).

Integer and Float Essentials

Integers (int): whole numbers such as -2, 0, 7, 456566. Python supports arbitrarily large integers;
Floats (float): decimal values such as 2.5, 3.14159, 2.71828, or scientific notation like 6.02e23;
Truthiness: 0 and 0.0 are False, any other int/float is True in boolean contexts.

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a compact way to write very large or very small numbers using powers of ten. In Python, a number written with e means “multiply by 10 raised to a power”: for example, 1e-3 means $1 × 10⁻³$ (0.001), and 6.02e23 means $6.02 × 10²³$ . Numbers written in this form are always treated as float.


              123456
            
# Basic numeric literals
n_int = 42
n_float = 3.14
n_sci = 1e-3   # 0.001

print(n_int, n_float, n_sci)

Writing Large Numbers Readably

Humans often write 1,000,000 or 1 000 000. Python doesn't allow commas or spaces inside numeric literals, use underscores for readability.


              12
            
million = 1_000_000
print(million == 1000000)   # True

Note

Floats are stored as binary fractions, tiny rounding differences are normal (e.g., 0.1 + 0.2 may not be exactly 0.3). You'll handle rounding and formatting later.

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Section 1. Chapter 1

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Prerequisites

Introduction to Python

Integer and Float Essentials

Integers (int): whole numbers such as -2, 0, 7, 456566. Python supports arbitrarily large integers;
Floats (float): decimal values such as 2.5, 3.14159, 2.71828, or scientific notation like 6.02e23;
Truthiness: 0 and 0.0 are False, any other int/float is True in boolean contexts.

Scientific Notation


              123456
            
# Basic numeric literals
n_int = 42
n_float = 3.14
n_sci = 1e-3   # 0.001

print(n_int, n_float, n_sci)

Writing Large Numbers Readably

Humans often write 1,000,000 or 1 000 000. Python doesn't allow commas or spaces inside numeric literals, use underscores for readability.


              12
            
million = 1_000_000
print(million == 1000000)   # True

Note

Floats are stored as binary fractions, tiny rounding differences are normal (e.g., 0.1 + 0.2 may not be exactly 0.3). You'll handle rounding and formatting later.

Everything was clear?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 1

Understanding Numeric Types

Integer and Float Essentials

Scientific Notation

Writing Large Numbers Readably

1. What is the type of `1e2`?

2. Which literal is valid in Python code for one million?

3. Pick the true statement about `int` and `float`.

Understanding Numeric Types

Integer and Float Essentials

Scientific Notation

Writing Large Numbers Readably

1. What is the type of `1e2`?

2. Which literal is valid in Python code for one million?

3. Pick the true statement about `int` and `float`.

Understanding Numeric Types

Integer and Float Essentials

Scientific Notation

Writing Large Numbers Readably

1. What is the type of 1e2?

2. Which literal is valid in Python code for one million?

3. Pick the true statement about int and float.

Understanding Numeric Types

Integer and Float Essentials

Scientific Notation

Writing Large Numbers Readably

1. What is the type of 1e2?

2. Which literal is valid in Python code for one million?

3. Pick the true statement about int and float.

1. What is the type of `1e2`?

3. Pick the true statement about `int` and `float`.

1. What is the type of `1e2`?

3. Pick the true statement about `int` and `float`.