Arithmetical operators

The following standard arithmetical operators are available in Ability. If arithmetical operators are used in conjunction with relational operators in an expression, then the arithmetical operations are calculated before the relational operators are evaluated.

Operator

Meaning

+

add

-

subtract

*

multiply

/

divide

^

power e.g. 2 ^ 3 = 2 * 2 * 2

%

percentage e.g. 15% = 0.15

(..)

bracketed expressions e.g. (2 * 8 - 17)

Note that the arithmetical operators are evaluated in the following order in an expression:

(..)
%
^
* and /
+ and -

For example, the expression:

1 + 2 * 3 / 4 ^ 5 % - 6

is calculated as if it were the bracketed expression:

1 + ((2 * 3) / (4 ^ (5%))) - 6

Ability will automatically strip excess brackets from a formula to display it in its simplest form.

See also:

Logical operators

Relational operators

Priority of evaluation of operators

Function reference