Python - Division and floating point numbers

Question

this gives a floating point number:

>>> 17 / 3  # classic division returns a float
5.666666666666667

However, when I try it I get:

>>> 17 / 3
5

How come? FWIW, I'm using Python 2.7.10 on the Mac.

See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1267869/how-can-i-force-division-to-be-floating-point-in-python — Harpunius, Jun 07 '16 at 13:51
A better dupe [Division in Python 2.7. and 3.3](http://stackoverflow.com/q/21316968) — Bhargav Rao, Jun 07 '16 at 13:52

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 07 '16 at 13:51

1

That behaviour changed between Python 2.7 and 3.

answered Jun 07 '16 at 13:51

Hans

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 07 '16 at 13:51

The answer is in the URL:

https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/introduction.html
https://docs.python.org/2.7/tutorial/introduction.html

The URL you posted is for Python 3, but you are using Python 2.7.

There's a dropdown at the top of the page. You can select 2.7 from there to get the documentation for Python 2.7:

>>> 17 / 3  # int / int -> int
5

2 Answers2