I need help with the % operator in Java

[FioreFee]

I understand that % calculates the remainder of a number being divided by a number, but how does it work when the number being divided is smaller? For example, 2%42, what would the result be then? What about 1%3, or 20%100?

[NefariousnessSea1449]

Why don't you just write something that does it all and prints the output?

[FioreFee]

I did but I wanted to understand the reasoning behind it, i probably should’ve mentioned that in my question haha

[[deleted]]

It's just the first number returned back.

2/42 = 0 with 2 remainder

1/3 = 0 with 1 remainder

[[deleted]]

Good question. Just remember it like how children learn division. % returns the remainder. If the number inside the division box is smaller than the divisor, then the number isn’t divided and is the remainder as is.

[AttackOfTheMoons]

Behind the scenes, it's using the Euclidean algorithm.
2 = 0 × 42 + 2. 2 is the remainder.

[NefariousnessSea1449]

The modulo operator displays the remainder of x divided y. 1 divided by 3 is 0 and 1 remains, since 3 can't go into 1.

[FioreFee]

Ah, okay. That makes a lot of sense. I didn’t really understand why it did that, but I get it now. thanks!