PHP Math

PHP has a set of math functions that allows you to perform mathematical tasks on numbers.

PHP pi() Function

The pi() function returns the value of PI:

< ?php
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(pi()); class="commentcolor" style="color:green">// returns 3.1415926535898
class="phptagcolor" style="color:red">?>

PHP min() and max() Functions

The min() and max() functions can be used to find the lowest or highest value in a list of arguments:

< ?php
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(min(class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">0, class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">150, class="phpnumbercolor" 
style="color:red">30, class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">20, -class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">8, -class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">200));  class="commentcolor" 
style="color:green">// returns -200
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(max(class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">0, class="phpnumbercolor" 
style="color:red"> class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">150, class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">30, class="phpnumbercolor" 
style="color:red">20, -class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">8, -class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">200));  class="commentcolor" style="color:green">// returns 150
class="phptagcolor" style="color:red">?>

PHP abs() Function

The abs() function returns the absolute (positive) value of a number:

< ?php
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(abs(-class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">6.7));  class="commentcolor" style="color:green">// returns 6.7
class="phptagcolor" style="color:red">?>

PHP sqrt() Function

The sqrt() function returns the square root of a number:

< ?php
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(sqrt(class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">64));  class="commentcolor" style="color:green">// returns 8
class="phptagcolor" style="color:red">?

PHP round() Function

The round() function rounds a floating-point number to its nearest integer:

< ?php
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(round(class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">0.60));  class="commentcolor" style="color:green">// returns 1
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(round(class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">0.49));  class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">
 class="commentcolor" style="color:green"> // returns 0
class="phptagcolor" style="color:red">?>

Random Numbers

The rand() function generates a random number:

< ?php
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(rand());
class="phptagcolor" style="color:red">?>

To get more control over the random number, you can add the optional min and max parameters to specify the lowest integer and the highest integer to be returned.

For example, if you want a random integer between 10 and 100 (inclusive), use rand(10, 100):

< ?php
class="phpkeywordcolor" style="color:mediumblue">echo(rand(class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">10, class="phpnumbercolor" style="color:red">100));
class="phptagcolor" style="color:red">?>

Complete PHP Math Reference

For a complete reference of all math functions, go to our complete PHP Math Reference.

The PHP math reference contains description and example of use, for each function.