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Arithmetic Functions

Arithmetic functions transform raw numbers into polished, user-friendly displays. Instead of showing "4.7543 stars" or "1234.567 price", you can round, format, and present numbers that look professional and are easy to read.

Why Arithmetic Functions Matter​

Raw data problems:

  • Prices like 19.999 instead of $20.00
  • Ratings showing 4.7642 instead of 4.8 stars
  • View counts like 1234567 instead of 1,234,567 views
  • Incomplete pagination when 2.3 pages are needed

What arithmetic functions solve:

  • Currency formatting: Turn 19.99 into $19.99
  • Clean displays: Round 4.7 rating to 5 full stars
  • Readable numbers: Format 1234567 as 1,234,567
  • Smart calculations: Always show enough pages, never show partial items

Rounding Numbers​

Make messy decimals clean and presentable.

ceil​

Perfect for pagination and ensuring you always have enough space.

ceil(number)

When to use:

  • Pagination (always show enough pages)
  • Minimum quantities needed
  • "Round up to next dollar" pricing

floor​

Great for showing only complete units like full stars or available quantities.

floor(number)

When to use:

  • Star ratings (show only full stars)
  • Available complete sets
  • "Round down" discounts

round​

Most common rounding for prices, percentages, and general number cleanup.

round(number, precision)

Parameters:

  • precision - Decimal places to keep (0 = whole number)

When to use:

  • Currency (2 decimal places)
  • Percentages (1 decimal place)
  • Clean number displays

Finding Best Values​

Compare multiple numbers to find the highest, lowest, or best option.

max​

Show the best price, highest rating, or maximum value from multiple options.

max(number1, number2, ...)
max(array_of_numbers)

When to use:

  • Find best rating or highest score
  • Show premium price option
  • Ensure minimum values (ironically!)

min​

Show the best deal, lowest price, or minimum value from multiple options.

min(number1, number2, ...)
min(array_of_numbers)

When to use:

  • Find best price or lowest cost
  • Show minimum required value

Making Numbers Readable​

Transform raw numbers into polished, professional displays.

number_format​

Make large numbers readable with thousands separators and consistent decimal places.

number_format(number, decimals, decimal_point, thousands_separator)

Parameters:

  • decimals - How many decimal places (default: 0)
  • decimal_point - Character for decimals (default: '.')
  • thousands_separator - Character for thousands (default: ',')

When to use:

  • Large numbers (views, downloads, prices)
  • International formatting
  • Consistent decimal display

sprintf​

Create exactly formatted strings with placeholders for numbers.

sprintf(format_string, value1, value2, ...)

Format codes:

  • %.2f - Float with 2 decimals
  • %d - Whole number
  • %s - String
  • %% - Literal % symbol

When to use:

  • Exact currency formatting
  • Percentage displays
  • Complex formatted strings

Converting Number Types​

Ensure your data is the right type for calculations and displays.

intval​

Convert any value to a whole number, removing decimals.

intval(value)

When to use:

  • User IDs and database IDs
  • Quantities and counts
  • Array indices
  • Clean user input

floatval​

Convert any value to a decimal number, keeping precision.

floatval(value)

When to use:

  • Price calculations
  • Percentage math
  • Precise measurements
  • Mathematical operations

Working with Lists​

Calculate totals and count items in arrays.

sum​

Calculate totals from arrays of numbers.

sum(array_of_numbers)

When to use:

  • Shopping cart totals
  • Score calculations
  • Revenue totals
  • Quantity sums

count​

Count how many items are in an array or string length.

count(array_or_string)

When to use:

  • Check if array has items
  • Count search results
  • String length checking
  • Loop limits

Common Patterns​

Currency Formatting​

# US Dollar format
'$' ~ number_format(price, 2)
# Result: "$1,234.50"

# European format  
number_format(price, 2, ',', '.') ~ ' €'
# Result: "1.234,50 €"

# Precise formatting
sprintf('$%.2f', price)
# Result: "$19.99"

Percentage Calculations​

# Calculate and format percentage
sprintf('%.1f%%', (completed / total) * 100)
# Result: "75.5%"

# Safe percentage (avoid division by zero)
total > 0 ? round((completed / total) * 100, 1) : 0
# Result: 75.5 or 0