1. Binary Operators

These require two operands (numbers or variables) to perform a calculation.

2. Unary Operators

These operators act on a single operand. They are frequently used in loops, which you will cover later in the curriculum.

• Increment (++): Increases the value of a variable by 1.

• Decrement (--): Decreases the value of a variable by 1.

Note on Division: In C, if you divide two integers (e.g., $5 / 2$), the result will be an integer ($2$), not a decimal ($2.5$). To get a decimal result, at least one operand must be a float or double.

3. The Modulus Operator (%)

The modulus operator is unique because it returns the remainder of a division. It is incredibly useful in programming for tasks like:

• Checking if a number is even or odd (x % 2 == 0).

• Finding the last digit of a number (x % 10).

• Keeping a value within a certain range (used often in circular buffers in embedded systems).

Precedence and Associativity

When multiple operators appear in one expression (e.g., $10 + 5 * 2$), C follows a specific order:

1. Multiplication, Division, and Modulus have higher priority.

2. Addition and Subtraction have lower priority.

3. If operators have the same priority, they are evaluated from left to right.