ZeroDivisionError: float division by zero in Python [Fixed]

# Table of Contents

1. ZeroDivisionError: float division by zero in Python
2. ZeroDivisionError: integer modulo by zero
3. ZeroDivisionError: division by zero in Python

# ZeroDivisionError: float division by zero in Python

The Python "ZeroDivisionError: float division by zero" occurs when we try to divide a floating-point number by 0.

To solve the error, use an if statement to check if the number you are dividing by is not zero, or handle the error in a try/except block.

Here is an example of how the error occurs.

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a = 15.0
b = 0

# ⛔️ ZeroDivisionError: float division by zero
result = a / b

It's unclear what value is expected when we divide by 0, so Python throws an error.

When we divide a number by 0, the result tends towards infinity.

# Checking if the value we are dividing by is not 0

One way to solve the error is to check if the value we are dividing by is not 0.

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a = 15.0
b = 0

if b != 0:
    result = a / b
else:
    result = 0

print(result)  # 👉️ 0

We check if the b variable doesn't store a 0 value and if it doesn't, we divide a by b.

If setting the result variable to 0 if b is equal to 0 suits your use case, you can shorten this to a single line.

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a = 15.0
b = 0

result = b and a / b

print(result)  # 👉️ 0

The expression x and y first evaluates x, and if x is falsy, its value is returned, otherwise, y is returned.

# Using a try/except statement to handle the error

Alternatively, you can use a try/except statement.

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a = 15.0
b = 0

try:
    result = a / b
except ZeroDivisionError:
    result = 0

print(result)  # 👉️ 0

We try to divide a by b and if we get a ZeroDivisionError, the except block sets the result variable to 0.

# Figure out where the variable got set to 0

The best way to solve the error is to figure out where the variable gets assigned a 0 and check whether that's the expected behavior.

Here are some common ways you might get a zero value unexpectedly.

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print(int())  # 👉️ 0
print(int(0.9))  # 👉️ 0

You might also get a zero value if you multiply any number by 0.

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num_1 = 5

num_2 = num_1 * 0

print(num_2) # 👉️ 0

Make sure you haven't assigned the result of multiplying a number by 0 to a variable.

# Handling a number from user input with a try/except statement

If you need to take a number from user input, use a try/except statement to handle the potential ZeroDivisionError.

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num_1 = 15.0


try:
    num_2 = int(input('Enter a number: '))
    result = num_1 / num_2

    print(f'The result of the division is: {result}')
except (ZeroDivisionError, ValueError):
    print('Specify a positive integer value')

If the user passes an invalid integer, a ValueError is raised and is then handled by the except block.

Similarly, if the user enters 0, a ZeroDivisionError is raised and is handled by the except block.

Otherwise, the result of the division gets printed in the try block.

# Table of Contents

1. ZeroDivisionError: integer modulo by zero
2. ZeroDivisionError: division by zero in Python

# ZeroDivisionError: integer modulo by zero in Python

The Python "ZeroDivisionError: integer division or modulo by zero" occurs when we use the modulo % operator with an integer and a zero.

To solve the error, figure out where the 0 comes from and correct the assignment.

Here is an example of how the error occurs.

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a = 6
b = 0

# ⛔️ ZeroDivisionError: integer division or modulo by zero
# ZeroDivisionError: integer modulo by zero
result = a % b

We tried using the modulo % operator with a zero.

It's unclear what value is expected when we divide by 0, so Python throws an error.

When we divide a number by 0, the result tends towards infinity.

# Figuring out where the variable got assigned a zero value

The best way to solve the error is to figure out where the 0 value comes from and correct the assignment.

Here are some unexpected sources of 0.

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import random

print(int())  # 👉️ 0
print(int(0.9))  # 👉️ 0

print(random.randint(0, 10))  # 👉️ 0

print(list(range(0, 5)))  # 👉️ [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

If you use the random.randint() method or the range() class, make sure to start from 1, and not from 0.

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import random

print(random.randint(1, 10))  # 👉️ 4

# 👇️ [1, 2, 3, 4]
print(list(range(1, 5)))

# Check if the value is not 0 before using modulo

You can also conditionally check if the variable doesn't store a 0 value before using the modulo operator.

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a = 6
b = 0

if b != 0:
    result = a % b
else:
    # 👇️ This runs
    print('b is equal to 0')

The if statement checks if the b variable doesn't store a 0 value before using the modulo % operator.

# Using a try/except statement to handle the error

Alternatively, you can use a try/except statement.

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a = 6
b = 0

try:
    result = a % b
    print(result)
except ZeroDivisionError:
    pass

We use the modulo operator and if we get a ZeroDivisionError, the except block is run.

You can set the result variable to a value that suits your use case in the except block or simply pass.

The modulo (%) operator returns the remainder from the division of the first value by the second.

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print(10 % 2)  # 👉️ 0
print(10 % 4)  # 👉️ 2

If the value on the right-hand side is zero, the operator raises a ZeroDivisionError exception.

The left and right-hand side values may also be floating point numbers.

If the left-hand side value is a float and the right-hand side value is 0, you would get a "ZeroDivisionError: float modulo" error.

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# ⛔️ ZeroDivisionError: float modulo
print(10.5 % 0)  # 👉️ 0

# ZeroDivisionError: division by zero in Python

The Python "ZeroDivisionError: division by zero" occurs when we try to divide a number by 0.

To solve the error, use an if statement to check if the number you are dividing by is not zero, or handle the error in a try/except block.

Here is an example of how the error occurs.

Copied!
a = 5
b = 0

# ⛔️ ZeroDivisionError: division by zero
result = a / b

It's unclear what value is expected when we divide by 0, so Python throws an error.

When we divide a number by 0, the result tends towards infinity.

# Checking if the value you are dividing by is not zero

One way to solve the error is to check if the value we are dividing by is not 0.

Copied!
a = 5
b = 0

if b != 0:
    result = a / b
else:
    result = 0

print(result)  # 👉️ 0

We check if the b variable doesn't store a 0 value and if it doesn't, we divide a by b.

If setting the result variable to 0, if b is equal to 0 suits your use case, you can shorten this to a single line.

Copied!
a = 5
b = 0

result = b and a / b

print(result)  # 👉️ 0

The expression x and y first evaluates x, and if x is falsy, its value is returned, otherwise, y is returned.

# Using a try/except statement to handle the error

Alternatively, you can use a try/except statement.

Copied!
a = 5
b = 0

try:
    result = a / b
except ZeroDivisionError:
    result = 0

print(result)  # 👉️ 0

The try/except block is known as "asking for forgiveness, rather than permission".

We try to divide a by b and if we get a ZeroDivisionError, the except block sets the result variable to 0.

The best way to solve the error is to figure out where the variable gets assigned a 0 and check whether that's the expected behavior.

Here are some common ways you might get a zero value unexpectedly.

Copied!
print(int())  # 👉️ 0
print(int(0.9))  # 👉️ 0

You might also get a zero value by multiplying a number by 0.

I've also written an article on how to check if a number is divisible by another number.

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

• How to Divide without a remainder in Python