Why Does Integer Division Yield Zero Instead of a Decimal Value?

Unexpected Zero Result from Integer Division

During a recent programming project, the following code produced an unexpected result:

<code>PRINT @set1
PRINT @set2

SET @weight= @set1 / @set2;
PRINT @weight</code>

The division yielded 0 instead of the expected 0.073667712.

The Root Cause: Integer Data Types

The problem stems from the data types of @set1 and @set2. Both are integers, capable of storing only whole numbers. Integer division always truncates the decimal portion, resulting in a whole number result. Therefore, 47 divided by 638 results in 0.

Solutions

To obtain the correct decimal result, two approaches are available:

1. Define Variables as Floats: Declare @set1 and @set2 as floating-point numbers (floats). This allows the variables to hold decimal values, ensuring accurate decimal division.

2. Type Casting During Calculation: If altering variable data types is not feasible, use the CAST operator to temporarily convert the integers to floats during the division:

<code>SET @weight= CAST(@set1 AS float) / CAST(@set2 AS float);</code>

Either method guarantees the division operation returns the expected decimal value, resolving the issue of the unexpected zero result.

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