PHP - Maths Functions

Mathematical operations are important parts of programming. PHP has several built-in math functions that make calculations easy. These functions can be used to round numbers, find maximum and minimum values, work with exponents and logarithms and so on.

In this chapter, we will look at different PHP math functions and mathematical (arithmetic) operators and how they can be used with the help of some examples. If you need to calculate absolute values, round numbers or perform complex mathematical operations, PHP’s math functions make it easy and efficient.

List of Math Functions

Here is the list of functions available in PHP −

FunctionDescriptionabs($num)Returns the absolute (positive) value of a number.ceil($num)Rounds a float number up to the next highest integer.exp($num)Returns Euler’s number (e) raised to the power of the given number.floor($num)Rounds a float number down to the next lowest integer.intdiv($x, $y)Returns the integer quotient of two integers (ignoring remainder).log10($num)Returns the base-10 logarithm of a number.max($values)Returns the highest value from an array or multiple values.min($values)Returns the lowest value from an array or multiple values.pow($base, $exp)Returns the result of raising a number to a given power.round($num, $precision)Rounds a number to the nearest integer or specified decimal places.sqrt($num)Returns the square root of a number.

PHP abs() Function

The abs() function is an in-built function in PHP iterpreter. This function accepts any number as argument and returns a positive value, disregarding its sign. Absolute value of any number is always positive.

abs( mixed $num)

PHP abs() function returns the absolute value ofnum. If the data type of num is float, its return type will also be float. For integer parameter, the return type is integer.

Example

Take a look at this following example −

<?php
   $num=-9.99;
   echo "negative float number: " . $num . "\n";
   echo "absolute value : " . abs($num) . "\n"; 

   $num=25.55;
   echo "positive float number: " . $num . "\n";
   echo "absolute value : " . abs($num). "\n";

   $num=-45;
   echo "negative integer number: " . $num . "\n";
   echo "absolute value : " . abs($num) . "\n"; 

   $num=25;
   echo "positive integer number: " . $num . "\n";
   echo "absolute value : " . abs($num);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

negative float number: -9.99
absolute value : 9.99
positive float number: 25.55
absolute value : 25.55
negative integer number: -45
absolute value : 45
positive integer number: 25
absolute value : 25

PHP ceil() Function

The ceil() function is an in-built function in PHP iterpreter. This function accepts any float number as argument and rounds it up to the next highest integer. This function always returns a float number as the range of float is bigger than that of integer.

ceil ( float $num ) : float

PHP ceil() function returns the smallest integer value that is bigger than or equal to given parameter.

Example 1

The following code rounds 5.78 to its next highest integer which is 6

<?php
   $arg=5.78; 
   $val=ceil($arg);
   echo "ceil(" . $arg .  ") = " . $val;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

ceil(5.78) = 6

Example 2

The following example shows how you can find the next highest integer of 15.05.

<?php
   $arg=15.05; 
   $val=ceil($arg);
   echo "ceil(" . $arg .  ") = " . $val;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

ceil(15.05) = 16

Example 3

For negative number, it is rounded towards 0.

<?php
   $arg=-3.95; 
   $val=ceil($arg);
   echo "ceil(" . $arg .  ") = " . $val;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

ceil(-3.95) = -3

PHP exp() Function

Theexp()function calculates exponent of e that is Euler Number. PHP has a predefined constant M_E that represents Euler Number and is equal to 2.7182818284590452354. Hence, exp(x) returns 2.7182818284590452354x

This function always returns a float.

exp ( float $arg ) : float

PHP exp() function returns the Euler Number e raised to givenarg.Note thateis the base of natural algorithm. The exp() function is the inverse of natural logarithm.

Example 1

One of the predefined constants in PHP isM_LN2which stands for loge2 and is equal to 0.69314718055994530942. So, the exp() of this value will return 2.

<?php
   echo "exp(" . M_LN2 . ") = " . exp(M_LN2);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

exp(0.69314718055995) = 2

Example 2

M_LN10 is another predefined constant representing loge10. This program calculates exp(M_LN10) and returns 10.

<?php
   echo "exp(" . M_LN10 . ") = " . exp(M_LN10);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

exp(2.302585092994) = 10

PHP floor() Function

The floor() function is another in-built function in PHP interpreter. This function accepts any float number as argument and rounds it down to the next lowest integer. This function always returns a float number as the range of float is bigger than that of integer.

floor ( float $num ) : float

PHP floor() function returns the largest integer less than or equal to the given parameter.

Example 1

The following example shows how to round 15.05 to its next highest integer which is 15

<?php
   $arg=15.05; 
   $val=floor($arg);
   echo "floor(" . $arg .  ") = " . $val;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

floor(15.05) = 15

Example 2

The following example shows how to find the next lowest integer of 5.78.

<?php
   $arg=5.78; 
   $val=floor($arg);
   echo "floor(" . $arg .  ") = " . $val;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

floor(5.78) = 5

Example 3

Negative numbers are rounded away from 0.

<?php
   $arg=-3.95; 
   $val=floor($arg);
   echo "floor(" . $arg .  ") = " . $val;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

floor(-3.95) = -4

PHP intdiv() Function

The intdiv() function returns the integer quotient of two integer parameters. If x/y results in “i” as division and “r” as remainder, then −

x = y*i+r

In this case, intdiv(x,y) returns “i”

intdiv ( int $x , int $y ) : int

The “x” parameter forms numerator part of the division expression, while the “y” parameter forms the denominator part of the division expression.

PHP intdiv() function returns the integer quotient of division of “x” by “y”. The return value is positive if both the parameters are positive or both the parameters are negative.

Example 1

The following example shows that if the numerator is less than the denominator, then intdiv() function returns 0.

<?php
   $x=10;
   $y=3; 
   $r=intdiv($x, $y);
   echo "intdiv(" . $x . "," . $y . ") = " . $r . "\n";
   $r=intdiv($y, $x);
   echo "intdiv(" . $y . "," . $x . ") = " . $r;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

intdiv(10,3) = 3
intdiv(3,10) = 0

Example 2

In the following example, intdiv() function returns a negative integer because either the numerator or the denominator is negative.

<?php
   $x=10;
   $y=3; 
   $r=intdiv($x, $y);
   echo "intdiv(" . $x . "," . $y . ") = " . $r . "\n";

   $x=10;
   $y=-3; 
   $r=intdiv($x, $y);
   echo "intdiv(" . $x . "," . $y . ") = " . $r . "\n";

   $x=-10;
   $y=3; 
   $r=intdiv($x, $y);
   echo "intdiv(" . $x . "," . $y . ") = " . $r . "\n";

   $x=-10;
   $y=-3; 
   $r=intdiv($x, $y);
   echo "intdiv(" . $x . "," . $y . ") = " . $r ;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

intdiv(10,3) = 3
intdiv(10,-3) = -3
intdiv(-10,3) = -3
intdiv(-10,-3) = 3

Example 3

Denominator is 0 in the following example. It results in DivisionByZeroError exception.

<?php
   $x=10;
   $y=0; 
   $r=intdiv($x, $y);
   echo "intdiv(" . $x . "," . $y . ") = " . $r . "\n";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught DivisionByZeroError: Division by zero

Example 4

The fractional parts in both the parameters are ignored. PHP intdiv() function is applied only to the integer parts.

<?php
   $x=2.90;
   $y=1.90; 
   $r=intdiv($x, $y);
   echo "intdiv(" . $x . "," . $y . ") = " . $r . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

intdiv(2.9,1.9) = 2

PHP log10() Function

Thelog10() function calculates the base-10 logarithm of a number. Base-10 logarithm is also calledcommonorstandard algorithm. The log10(x) function calculates log10x. It is related to natural algorithm by the following equation −

log10x=logex/loge10 ; So that
log10100=loge100/loge10 = 2

In PHP,log10is represented bylog10()function

log10 ( float $arg ) : float

PHP log10() function returns the base-10 logarithm ofarg.

Example 1

The following code calculates the base-10 logarithm of 100

<?php
   $arg=100;
   echo "log10(" . $arg. ")=" . log10($arg) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

log10(100)=2

Example 2

The following code calculates the base-10 logarithm of Euler NumberM_E. The result is equal to a predefined constantM_LOG10E

<?php
   $arg=M_E;
   echo "log10(" . $arg. ")=" . log10($arg) . "\n";
   echo "predefined constant M_LOG10E=" . M_LOG10E;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

log10(2.718281828459)=0.43429448190325
predefined constant M_LOG10E=0.43429448190325

Example 3

The following code calculates log100 and returns -.

<?php
   $arg=0;
   echo "log10(" . $arg. ")=" . log10($arg) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

log10(0)=-INF

Example 4

Similarly sqrt(-1) results in NAN. Hence, its log10() also returns NAN.

<?php
   $arg=sqrt(-1);
   echo "log10(" . $arg. ")=" . log10($arg) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

log10(NAN)=NAN

PHP max() Function

The max () function returns the highest element in an array, or the highest amongst two or more comma separated parameters.

max ( array $values ) : mixed

Or,

max ( mixed $value1 [, mixed $... ] ) : mixed

• If only one parameter is given, it should be an array of values which may be of same or different types.
• If two or more parameters are given, they should be any comparable values of same or different types.

PHP max() function returns the highest value from the array parameter or sequence of values. Standard comparison operators are applicable. If multiple values of different types evaluate as equal (e.g. 0 and ‘PHP’), the first parameter to the function will be returned.

Example 1

The following code returns the highest value from a numeric array.

<?php
   $arg=array(23, 5.55, 142, 56, 99);
   echo "array=";
   foreach ($arg as $i) echo $i . ",";
   echo "\n"; 
   echo "max = " . max($arg);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

array=23,5.55,142,56,99,
max = 142

Example 2

The following code returns max() from an array of strings.

<?php
   $arg=array("Java", "Angular", "PHP", "C", "Kotlin");
   echo "array=";
   foreach ($arg as $i) echo $i . ",";
   echo "\n"; 
   echo "max = " . max($arg);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

array=Java,Angular,PHP,C,Kotlin,
max = PHP

Example 3

In the following example, a series of string values is provided to the max() function. Let’s see how it behaves −

<?php
   $val1="Java";
   $val2="Angular";
   $val3="PHP";
   $val4="C";
   $val5="Kotlin";
   echo "values=" . $val1 . "," . $val2 . "," . $val3 . "," . 	$val4 . "," . $val5 . "\n";
   echo "max = " . max($val1, $val2, $val3,$val4,$val5);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

values=Java,Angular,PHP,C,Kotlin
max = PHP

Example 4

In this example, the given array is a collection of mixed data types.

<?php
   $arg=array(23, "Java", 142, 1e2, 99);
   echo "array=";
   foreach ($arg as $i) echo $i . ",";
   echo "\n"; 
   echo "max = " . max($arg);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

array=23,Java,142,100,99,
max = 142

PHP min() Function

The min () function returns the lowest element in an array, or the lowest amongst two or more comma separated parameters.

min ( array $values ) : mixed

Or,

min ( mixed $value1 [, mixed $... ] ) : mixed

• If only one parameter is given, it should be an array of values which may be of same or different types
• If two or more parameters are given, they should be any comparable values of same or different types

PHP min() function returns the lowest value from the array parameter or sequence of values. Standard comparison operators are applicable. If multiple values of different types evaluate as equal (e.g. 0 and ‘PHP’), the first parameter to the function will be returned

Example 1

The following code returns the smallest value from numeric array.

<?php
   $arg=array(23, 5.55, 142, 56, 99);
   echo "array=";
   foreach ($arg as $i) echo $i . ",";
   echo "\n"; 
   echo "min = " . min($arg);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

array=23,5.55,142,56,99,
min = 5.55

Example 2

The following code returns min() from an array of strings.

<?php
   $arg=array("Java", "Angular", "PHP", "C", "Kotlin");
   echo "array=";
   foreach ($arg as $i) echo $i . ",";
   echo "\n"; 
   echo "min = " . min($arg);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

array=Java,Angular,PHP,C,Kotlin,
min = Angular

Example 3

In this example, a series of string values is provided to the min() function.

<?php
   $val1="Java";
   $val2="Angular";
   $val3="PHP";
   $val4="C";
   $val5="Kotlin";
   echo "values=" . $val1 . "," . $val2 . "," . $val3 . "," . 	$val4 . "," . $val5 . "\n";
   echo "min = " . min($val1, $val2, $val3,$val4,$val5);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

values=Java,Angular,PHP,C,Kotlin
min = Angular

Example 4

In this example, the given array is a collection of mixed data types.

<?php
   $arg=array(23, "Java", 142, 1e2, 99);
   echo "array=";
   foreach ($arg as $i) echo $i . ",";
   echo "\n"; 
   echo "min = " . min($arg);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

array=23,Java,142,100,99,
min = 23

PHP pow() Function

Thepow() function is used to compute the power of a certain number. It returns xy calculation, also termed as x raised to y. PHP also provides ”**” as exponentiation operator.

So, pow(x,y) returns xy which is same as x**y.

pow ( number $base , number $exp ) : number

The first parameter is the base to be raised. The second parameter is the power to which base needs to be raised.

PHP pow() function returns the base raised to the power of exp. If both arguments are non-negative integers, the result is returned as integer, otherwise it is returned as a float.

Example 1

The following example calculates 102 using pow() function −

<?php
   echo "pow(10,2) = " . pow(10,2);
   echo " using ** operator " . 10**2;
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

pow(10,2) = 100 using ** operator 100

Example 2

Any number raised to 0 results in 1. This is verified in the following example −

<?php
   $x=10;
   $y=0;
   echo "pow(" . $x, "," . $y . ")=". pow($x,$y);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

pow(10,0)=1

Example 3

The following example shows how you can compute the square root of 100 using the pow() function −

<?php
   $x=100;
   $y=0.5;
   echo "pow(" . $x, "," . $y . ")=". pow($x,$y) . "\n";
   echo "using sqrt() function : ". sqrt(100);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

pow(100,0.5)=10
using sqrt() function : 10

Example 4

This example shows how you can use the pow() function to calculate the area of a circle.

<?php
   $radius=5;
   echo "radius = " . $radius . " area = " . M_PI*pow(5,2);
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

radius = 5 area = 78.539816339745

PHP round() Function

The round() function proves useful in rounding any floating point number upto a desired precision level. Positive precision parameter causes the number to be rounded after the decimal point; whereas with negative precision, rounding occurs before the decimal point. Precision is “0” by default.

For example, round(10.6) returns 11, round(10.2) returns 10. The function always returns a floating point number.

This function also has another optional parameter calledmodethat takes one of the redefined constants described later.

round ( float $value , int $precision , int $mode ) : float

Parameters

• Value− A float number to be rounded.
• Precision− Number of decimal digits to round to. Default is 0. Positive precision rounds given number after decimal point. Negative precision rounds the given number before decimal point.
• Mode− One of the following predefined constants.

Sr.NoConstant & Description1PHP_ROUND_HALF_UPRounds number away from 0 when it is half way there. Hence, 1.5 becomes 2 and -1.5 to -22PHP_ROUND_HALF_DOWNRounds number towards 0 when it is half way there. Hence 1.5 becomes 1 and -1.5 to -13PHP_ROUND_HALF_EVENRounds the number to nearest even value4PHP_ROUND_HALF_ODDRounds the number to nearest odd value

PHP round() function returns a float number that by rounding the value to a desired precision.

Example 1

The following code rounds the given number to positive precision values −

<?php
   $arg=1234.567;
   echo "round(" . $arg . ") = " . round($arg) . "\n";
   echo "round(" . $arg . ",1) = " . round($arg,1) . "\n";
   echo "round(" . $arg . ",2) = " . round($arg,2) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

round(1234.567) = 1235
round(1234.567,1) = 1234.6
round(1234.567,2) = 1234.57

Example 2

The following code rounds the number to negative precision values −

<?php
   $arg=1234.567;
   echo "round(" . $arg . ") = " . round($arg) . "\n";
   echo "round(" . $arg . ",-1) = " . round($arg,-1) . "\n";
   echo "round(" . $arg . ",-2) = " . round($arg,-2) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

round(1234.567) = 1235
round(1234.567,-1) = 1230
round(1234.567,-2) = 1200

Example 3

The following code uses UP and DOWN mode constants for rounding −

<?php
   echo "round(3.45,HALF_UP) = " . round(3.45,0, PHP_ROUND_HALF_UP) . "\n";
   echo "round(3.75 HALF_UP) = " . round(3.75, 1, PHP_ROUND_HALF_DOWN) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

round(3.45,HALF_UP) = 3
round(3.75 HALF_UP) = 3.7

Example 4

The following code uses ODD and EVEN modes for rounding −

<?php
   echo "round( 3.45,HALF_ODD) = " . round(3.45,0, PHP_ROUND_HALF_ODD) . "\n";
   echo "round(3.78 HALF_EVEN) = " . round(3.78, 0, PHP_ROUND_HALF_EVEN) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

round(3.45,HALF_ODD) = 3
round(3.78, HALF_EVEN) = 4

PHP sqrt() Function

The sqrt() function returns the square root of a positive float number. Since square root for a negative number is not defined, it returns NAN. This is one of the most commonly used functions. This function always returns a floating point number.

sqrt (float $arg) : float

PHP sqrt() function returns the square root of the given arg number. For negative numbers, the function returns NAN.

Example 1

The following code calculates the square root of 100 −

<?php
   $arg = 100;
   echo "Square root of " . $arg . "=" . sqrt($arg) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

Square root of 100=10

Example 2

For sqrt(2), 1/sqrt(2) and sqrt(3), PHP has special predefined constants M_SQRT2, M_SQRT1_2 and M_SQRT3, respectively.

<?php
   echo "sqrt(2) = " . sqrt(2) . "\n";
   echo "M_SQRT2 = " . M_SQRT2. "\n";
   echo "sqrt(3) = " . sqrt(3) . "\n";
   echo "M_SQRT3 = " . M_SQRT3 . "\n";
   echo "1/sqrt(2)) = " . 1/sqrt(2) . "\n";
   echo "M_SQRT1_2 = " . M_SQRT1_2 . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

sqrt(2) = 1.4142135623731
M_SQRT2 = 1.4142135623731
sqrt(3) = 1.7320508075689
M_SQRT3 = 1.7320508075689
1/sqrt(2)) = 0.70710678118655
M_SQRT1_2 = 0.70710678118655

Example 3

The mathematical constants M_SQRTPI and M_2_SQRTPI represent values of sqrt() and 2/sqrt().

<?php
   echo "sqrt(pi) = " . sqrt(M_PI) . "\n";
   echo "M_SQRTPI = " . M_SQRTPI. "\n";
   echo "2/sqrt(pi) = " . 2/sqrt(M_PI) . "\n";
   echo "M_2_SQRTPI = " . M_2_SQRTPI . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

sqrt(pi) = 1.7724538509055
M_SQRTPI = 1.7724538509055
2/sqrt(pi) = 1.1283791670955
M_2_SQRTPI = 1.1283791670955

Example 4

sqrt(-1) is undefined, hence it returns NAN.

<?php
   echo "sqrt(-1) = " . sqrt(-1) . "";
?>

It will produce the followingoutput−

sqrt(-1) = NAN

Predefined Mathematical Constants

In addition to the above mathematical functions, PHP also has the following list of predefined mathematical constants −

ConstantValueDescriptionM_PI3.14159265358979323846PiM_E2.7182818284590452354Euler Number eM_LOG2E1.4426950408889634074log2 eM_LOG10E0.43429448190325182765log10 eM_LN20.69314718055994530942loge 2M_LN10M_LN10 2.30258509299404568402 loge 10loge 10M_PI_21.57079632679489661923pi/2M_PI_40.78539816339744830962pi/4M_1_PI0.318309886183790671541/piM_2_PI0.636619772367581343082/piM_SQRTPI1.77245385090551602729sqrt(pi)M_2_SQRTPI1.128379167095512573902/sqrt(pi)M_SQRT21.41421356237309504880sqrt(2)M_SQRT31.73205080756887729352sqrt(3)M_SQRT1_20.707106781186547524401/sqrt(2)M_LNPI1.14472988584940017414loge(pi)M_EULER0.57721566490153286061Euler constantPHP_ROUND_HALF_UP1Round halves upPHP_ROUND_HALF_DOWN2Round halves downPHP_ROUND_HALF_EVEN3Round halves to even numbersPHP_ROUND_HALF_ODD4Round halves to odd numbersNANNANNot A NumberINFINFInfinity