Home/ Questions/Q 7602845
In Process

The Archive Base Latest Questions

Editorial Team
  • 0
Asked: 2026-05-30T23:30:57+00:00

x = 16 sqrt = x**(.5) #returns 4 sqrt = x**(1/2) #returns 1 I

  • 0
x = 16

sqrt = x**(.5)  #returns 4
sqrt = x**(1/2) #returns 1

I know I can import math and use sqrt, but I’m looking for an answer to the above. What is integer division in Python 2? This behavior is fixed in Python 3.

Share

Leave an answer

You must login to add an answer.

Need An Account,

1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    In Python 2, sqrt=x**(1/2) does integer division. 1/2 == 0.

    So x(1/2) equals x(0), which is 1.

    It’s not wrong, it’s the right answer to a different question.

    If you want to calculate the square root without an import of the math module, you’ll need to use x**(1.0/2) or x**(1/2.). One of the integers needs to be a floating number.

    Note: this is not the case in Python 3, where 1/2 would be 0.5 and 1//2 would instead be integer division.

    • 0