Operators#

Introduction #

The Operators blocks in VEXcode AIR handle mathematical calculations and string manipulations. These blocks allow for performing arithmetic, evaluating conditions, and processing text. Below is a list of available blocks:

Math – Perform calculations and evaluate numerical conditions.

math operator – Performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
comparison operator – Compares two values using greater than, less than, or equal operators.
logical operator – Evaluates multiple conditions using and or or.
not operator – Inverts a Boolean value.
range operator – Checks if a number falls within a range.
pick random – Generates a random number within a specified range.
round number – Rounds a number to the nearest whole number.
math functions – Applies operations such as square root, trigonometry, logarithms, and exponentiation.
atan2 – Computes the inverse tangent of Y/X.
remainder – Returns the remainder of a division operation.

Strings – Manipulate and analyze text.

join – Combines two strings into one.
letter – Extracts a character from a string by position.
length – Returns the number of characters in a string.
contains – Checks if a string includes a specific word or character.
convert – Converts a number into text, a whole number, or a decimal.

Math #

math operator #

The math operator block performs basic arithmetic on the values placed on either side. It returns a result based on the project’s print precision, which defaults to 0 decimal places but can be adjusted using the set print precision block.

The Math operator reporter block.#

    ([0] [math_plus v] [0])

Parameters	Description
value 1	The first number used in the operation.
operator	The mathematical operator to use: + – Addition - – Subtraction * – Multiplication / – Division
value 2	The second number used in the operation.

Parameters

Description

value 1

The first number used in the operation.

operator

The mathematical operator to use:

+ – Addition
- – Subtraction
* – Multiplication
/ – Division

value 2

The second number used in the operation.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Perform basic addition and show two decimal places.]
  set print precision to [0.01 v] on screen
  print ([10] [math_plus v] [10.5]) on screen ▶

comparison operator #

The comparison operator block compares two values using a selected operator and returns either True or False.

True – The comparison is correct (e.g., 5 > 3 returns True).
False – The comparison is incorrect (e.g., 2 ≥ 5 returns False).

The Comparison operator Boolean block.#

    <[0] [math_equal v] [0]>

Parameter	Description
value 1	The first value to compare.
operator	The comparison to use: = – Equal to < – Less than ≤ – Less than or equal to > – Greater than ≥ – Greater than or equal to
value 2	The second value to compare.

Parameter

Description

value 1

The first value to compare.

operator

The comparison to use:

= – Equal to
< – Less than
≤ – Less than or equal to
> – Greater than
≥ – Greater than or equal to

value 2

The second value to compare.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Turn right until the heading reached 90 degrees.]
  turn [right v]
  wait (0.05) seconds
  wait until <(heading in degrees) [math_greater_than v] [90]>
  land ▶

logical operator #

The logical operator block checks multiple conditions and returns either True or False based on the selected operator.

True – The logic condition is met.
False – The logic condition is not met.

The Logical Operator Boolean block.#

    <<> [and v] <>>

Parameter	Description
condition 1	The first Boolean condition to evaluate.
operator	The logical operator to use: and – Returns True if both conditions are True. or – Returns True if at least one condition is True.
condition 2	The second Boolean condition to evaluate.

Parameter

Description

condition 1

The first Boolean condition to evaluate.

operator

The logical operator to use:

and – Returns True if both conditions are True.
or – Returns True if at least one condition is True.

condition 2

The second Boolean condition to evaluate.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Wait for controller buttons to be pressed before taking off.]
  wait until <<controller button [5 v] pressed?> [and v] <controller button [7 v] pressed?>>
  take off to [500] mm ▶

not operator #

The not operator block inverts the result of a Boolean block. If the input is True, it returns False, and if the input is False, it returns True.

True – The input condition would normally return False.
False – The input condition would normally return True.

The Not Operator Boolean block.#

    <not <>>

Parameter	Description
condition	The Boolean condition to be inverted.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Move with controller while the screen is not pressed.]
  take off to [500] mm ▶
  while <not <screen pressed?>>
    move with controller
  end
  land ▶

range operator #

The range operator block checks if a value falls within a specified range. It returns either True or False.

True – If the value is within the range.
False – If the value is outside the range.

The Range Operator Boolean block.#

    <[0] [math_less_than v] [0] [math_less_than v] [0]>

Parameter	Description
first operator	The comparison operator to use: < – Less than ≤ – Less than or equal to > – Greater than ≥ – Greater than or equal to
value	The value to check.
second operator	The comparison operator to use: < – Less than ≤ – Less than or equal to > – Greater than ≥ – Greater than or equal to

Parameter

Description

first operator

The comparison operator to use:

< – Less than
≤ – Less than or equal to
> – Greater than
≥ – Greater than or equal to

value

The value to check.

second operator

The comparison operator to use:

< – Less than
≤ – Less than or equal to
> – Greater than
≥ – Greater than or equal to

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display when the Hornet is facing rightward.]
  take off to [500] mm ▶
  turn [right v]
  wait until <[80] [math_less_than v] (heading in degrees) [math_less_than v] [100]>
  print [Facing Right!] on screen ▶
  land ▶

pick random #

The pick random block generates a random number within a specified range. The number returned will be an integer if both parameters are whole numbers or a decimal if either parameter contains a decimal.

The Pick Random reporter block.#

    pick random [1] to [10]

Parameters	Description
min	The lowest possible number that can be picked.
max	The highest possible number that can be picked.

Examples

  when started :: hat events
  [Display a number between 1 and 10.]
  print (pick random [1] to [10]) on screen ▶

  when started :: hat events
  [Display a decimal number between 1 and 10.5.]
  set print precision to [All Digits v] on screen
  print (pick random [1] to [10.5]) on screen ▶

round number #

The round number block rounds a given number to the nearest whole number. It follows standard rounding rules:

If the decimal is 0.5 or greater, the number rounds up.
If the decimal is less than 0.5, the number rounds down.

The Round Number reporter block.#

    (round [0] to [0] decimal places)

Parameter	Description
number	The number to round.
decimal places	The amount of decimals places to round to.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the rounded result of 10 / 3.]
  set print precision to [0.01 v] on screen
  print (round ([10] [math_division v] [3]) to [1] decimal places) on screen ▶

math functions #

The math functions block applies a selected mathematical function to a given number and returns the result. It supports operations such as absolute value, rounding, square roots, trigonometric functions, logarithms, and exponentiation.

The Math Functions reporter block.#

    [abs v] of [0]

Parameter	Description
function	The mathematical operation to apply to the input value: abs – Absolute value floor – Rounds down ceiling – Rounds up sqrt – Square root sin – Sine cos – Cosine tan – Tangent asin – Inverse sine acos – Inverse cosine atan – Inverse tangent ln – Natural logarithm log – Base 10 logarithm e^ – Euler’s number raised to a power 10^ – 10 raised to a power negative – Returns the negative of the number
number	The number to apply the function to.

Parameter

Description

function

The mathematical operation to apply to the input value:

abs – Absolute value
floor – Rounds down
ceiling – Rounds up
sqrt – Square root
sin – Sine
cos – Cosine
tan – Tangent
asin – Inverse sine
acos – Inverse cosine
atan – Inverse tangent
ln – Natural logarithm
log – Base 10 logarithm
e^ – Euler’s number raised to a power
10^ – 10 raised to a power
negative – Returns the negative of the number

number

The number to apply the function to.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the square root of 16.]
  print ([sqrt v] of [16]) on screen ▶

atan2 #

The atan2 block calculates the principal value of the inverse tangent of Y/X. It returns the angle in degrees between the positive X-axis and the point (X, Y).

  (atan2 of x: [4] y: [3])

Parameter	Description
X	The horizontal position of the point, measured from the origin (0, 0).
Y	The vertical position of the point, measured from the origin (0, 0).

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Calculate the angle from current position (4, 3).]
  print (atan2 of x: [4] y: [3]) on screen ▶

remainder #

The remainder block calculates the remainder when dividing one number by another.

The Remainder reporter block.#

    remainder of [0] / [0]

Parameter	Description
dividend	The number to be divided.
divisor	The number to divide by.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the remainder of 10 / 3.]
  print (remainder of [10] / [3]) on screen ▶

Strings #

join #

The join block combines two or more strings into a single string. It returns a string that contains the combined text of the given inputs.

The Join reporter block.#

    (join [apple] [banana])

parameter	description
string 1	The first string to combine.
string 2	The second string to combine.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display "VEXcode" on the screen.]
  print (join [VEX] [code]) on screen ▶

letter #

The letter block extracts a specific character from a string based on its position. It returns a single-character string, representing the letter at the given position.

The Letter reporter block.#

    (letter [1] of [apple])

parameter	description
position	The position of the character in the string (starting at 1).
string	The string to extract a letter from.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the first letter of "Robot".]
  print (letter (1) of [Robot]) on screen ▶

length #

The length block reports the number of characters in a string, including spaces. It returns a whole number, representing the total number of characters.

The Length reporter block.#

    (length of [apple])

parameter	description
string	The string to measure the length of.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Count the number of characters in "VEX Robotics".]
  print (length of [VEX Robotics]) on screen ▶

contains #

The contains block checks if a string includes a specific word or character. It returns either True or False.

True – The string includes that specific word or character.
False – The string does not include that specific word or character.

The Contains Boolean block.#

    <[apple] contains [a] ?>

parameter	description
string	The main string to search within.
search term	The word or character to check for inside the string.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Check if "robotics" contains "bot".]
  if <[robotics] contains [bot] ?> then
    print [The word contains "bot".] on screen ▶
  else
    print [Not found.] on screen ▶
  end

convert #

The convert block changes a number into a different format: a string or decimal number. It returns the value in the selected format:

text – Converts the number to a string. Numbers must be in string format to work with String Operator blocks.
number – Converts the number to a decimal (floating-point) value.

The Convert reporter block.#

    (convert [0] to [text v])

parameter	description
value	The number to convert.
type	The type to convert the number into: text number

parameter

description

value

The number to convert.

type

The type to convert the number into:

text
number

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Add any number to 5.]
  ask [Give me a number.] and wait
  print ((convert (answer) to [number v]) [math_plus v] [5]) on screen ▶