Expressions with arithmetic operators

If arithmetic operators are used, the result of the expression is a number derived from the application of the operators to the values of the operands.

The result of the expression can be null. If any operand has the null value, the result of the expression is the null value. Arithmetic operators (except unary plus, which is meaningless) must not be applied to strings. For example, USER+2 is invalid. Multiplication and division operators must not be applied to datetime values, which can only be added and subtracted.

The prefix operator + (unary plus) does not change its operand. The prefix operator - (unary minus) reverses the sign of a nonzero operand. If the data type of A is small integer, the data type of -A is large integer. The first character of the token following a prefix operator must not be a plus or minus sign.

The infix operators +, -, *, and / specify addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, respectively. The value of the second operand of division must not be zero.

Arithmetic with two integer operands
If both operands of an arithmetic operator are integers, the operation is performed in binary. The result is a large integer unless either (or both) operand is a big integer, in which case the result is a big integer.
Arithmetic with an integer and a decimal operand
If one operand is an integer and the other operand is decimal, the operation is performed in decimal. The arithmetic operation uses a temporary copy of the integer that has been converted to a decimal number.
Arithmetic with an integer and a decimal floating-point operand
If one operand is a small integer, large integer, or big integer and the other is a decimal floating-point number, the operation is performed in decimal floating point. The arithmetic operation uses a temporary copy of the integer that has been converted to a decimal floating-point number.
Arithmetic with two decimal operands
If both operands are decimal, the operation is performed in decimal.
Arithmetic with a decimal and a decimal floating-point operand
If one operand is a decimal and the other is a decimal floating point, the operation is performed in decimal floating point. The arithmetic operation uses a temporary copy of the decimal that has been converted to a decimal floating point based on the precision of the decimal number.
Arithmetic with floating-point operands
If either operand of an arithmetic operator is floating-point, the operation is performed in floating-point. If necessary, the operands are first converted to double-precision floating-point numbers. Thus, if any element of an expression is a floating-point number, the result of the expression is a double-precision floating-point number.
Arithmetic with a floating-point and a decimal floating-point operand
If one operand is a floating-point number (real or double) and the other is a decimal floating-point number, the operation is performed in decimal floating-point. The arithmetic operation uses a temporary copy of the floating-point number that has been converted to a decimal floating-point number.
Arithmetic with two decimal floating-point operands
If both operands are decimal floating point, the operation is performed in decimal floating point. If one operand is DECFLOAT(n) and the other is DECFLOAT(m), the operation is performed in DECFLOAT(max(n,m)).
Arithmetic with distinct type operands
A distinct type cannot be used with arithmetic operators even if its source data type is numeric.

Parent topic: Expressions