Math errors in PHP5.2?

Upgraded to PHP5 and now my scripts can't add...

[erikcw]

Hi all,

I upgraded my server over the weekend from php4.4 to php5.2. Since then, I've had a heck of a time getting math formulas to work correctly.

Are there any known changes to how php5 handles arithmetic operations?

Thanks!
Erik

[coopster]

None of which I am aware. Can you offer an example?

[barns101]

Any maths errors that I have ever encountered (not specifically with PHP5) have been because I wasn't using number_format() [php.net] correctly.

[mcavic]

I seem to recall having some floating point errors in PHP not too long ago. I don't remember what, but I solved it by rounding.

At first glance, I don't see anything here [php.net] that looks like a problem.

[erikcw]

Edit: double checking code before I post...

[erikcw]

Well, I found my problem.

I was try to use "^" for exponents (ie 4^2 instead of pow(4,2))

I could have sworn that ^ was the exponent operator in php...

[mcavic]

Hmm, the ^ works for me in PHP 5.2.0.

[Oops, no it doesn't. It runs, but 4^2 gives 6].

[coopster]

That is because the caret is a Bitwise Operator [php.net]. Don't worry, you aren't the first person to make this incorrect assumption! Here are some more helpful links:
Arithmetic Operators [php.net]
Mathematical Functions [php.net]
BCMath Arbitrary Precision Mathematics Functions [php.net]