Basic Math Functions in Java

2026-09-22

words

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pow()

This method returns the first argument raised to the power of the second argument.

Return type : double

Syntax :

double x = Math.pow(2,3); // 8

Use Math.pow(x , 1/n) to get nth root

sqrt()

This method returns sqrt of the argument.

Return type : double

Syntax :

double x = Math.sqrt(9); // 3.0

cbrt()

This method returns cube root of the argument.

Return type : double

This method was introduced in Java 5

Syntax :

double x = Math.cbrt(27); // 3.0

ceil()

This method returns the smallest number greater than or equal to the argument.

Return type : double

Syntax :

double a = Math.ceil(6.1); // 7.0
double b = Math.ceil(6); // 6.0
double c = Math.ceil(-6.1); // -6.0

floor()

This method returns the largest number that is less than or equal to the argument argument. Also known as the greatest integer function in Mathematics.

Return type : double

Syntax :

double a = Math.floor(6.1); // 6.0
double b = Math.floor(6); // 6.0
double c = Math.floor(-6.1); // -7.0

round()

This method returns the value of the argument, as an integer (if argument is float) or long(if argument is double), rounded to the nearest whole number.

Return type : long / int

Syntax :

double a = Math.round(6.5);  //  7
double b = Math.round(6.4);  //  6
double c = Math.round(-6.5); // -6
double d = Math.round(-6.4); // -6
double e = Math.round(-2.6); // -3

Note the above syntax carefully. ( .5 round up is done in case of positive values and .6 round down is done in case of negative numbers.)

abs()

This method returns the absolute value of the argument.

Return type : double / float / int / long (same as argument datatype)

Syntax :

double a = Math.abs(6.5); //  6.5
double b = Math.abs(-6.5); // 6.5
double c = Math.abs(-6); // 6
double d = Math.abs(6); // 6

max()

This method returns the maximum of the given two arguments.

Return type : double / float / int / long (same as argument datatype)

Syntax :

double x = Math.max(6.5, 6.4); // 6.5
double y = Math.max(-2 , -3); // -2

min()

This method returns the minimum of the given two arguments.

Return type : double / float / int / long (same as argument datatype)

Syntax :

double x = Math.min(6.5, 6.4); // 6.4
double y = Math.min(-2 , -3); // -3

random()

This method returns a random double value greater than or equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0

Return type : double

Syntax :

double x = Math.random(); // 0.1358...
double y = Math.random(); // 0.0

Math.PI

Java stores pi as a constant in the Math class.

Syntax :

double pi = Math.PI();