simple math question

[James Stroud]

John Salerno wrote:
> Hi all. I'm just starting out with Python, so I'm a little slow right 
> now. :)
> 
> Can someone explain to me why the expression 5 / -2 evaluates to -3, 
> especially considering that -2 * -3 evaluates to 6?
> 
> I'm sure it has something to do with the negative number and the current 
> way that the / operator is implemented, but why doesn't it evaluate to 
> -2 instead?

Its an integer expression.

Try '5.0/-2' or '5/-2.0' or 'float(5)/-2' or '5/float(-2)' and compare 
'5/-2' to '5/2'.

James