Why Does Integer Division in SQL Return 0 Instead of a Decimal Value?

Understanding Why SQL Integer Division Returns Zero

Unexpected zero results from SQL division operations can be confusing. This article addresses a situation where dividing two numeric variables (@set1 and @set2) produces 0 instead of the expected 0.073667712.

The problem stems from the variables' data types. SQL variables are typically integers or strings. When @set1 (47) and @set2 (638) are treated as integers, integer division occurs, resulting in 0. To get the correct decimal result, explicitly cast these variables to floating-point numbers before the calculation.

The solution uses the CAST function to convert the variables to floats:

SET @weight = CAST(@set1 AS FLOAT) / CAST(@set2 AS FLOAT);

Casting @set1 and @set2 as FLOAT ensures floating-point division, yielding the accurate decimal value of 0.073667712. This simple change guarantees the correct mathematical outcome.

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