modulus % as a relational operator

[mariemac]

Being triyng to get my head around a use for the modulus operator % and where it can be used .
It was suggested that it can be used in evaluating a statement in a if else loop

 if (int  % 6 == 0)
{
do this 
else 
do that .

as someone who has never come across the modulus operator before can someone explain how this works and if it is possible to code the same test without using the modulus .
much obliged for any input on this

[cs_student]

The modulus thing can be used in many different ways. You can generally do it other ways (though it may not be as intuitive or easy). ie, if you want to see if something is even or odd.

Using the mod operator

int x = 193586
if(x % 2 == 0)
    System.out.println("Even");
else
    System.out.println("Odd");

You could also create a recursive method that would determine.
(I just came up with this off the top of my head so it might not work quite right).

public boolean even(int num, int current) {
    if(current > num)
        return false;
    else if(current == num)
        return true;
    else return even(num, current * 2);
}

System.out.println(even(193586, 2));

While you can certainly do things differently, it is generally easier to use the modulus operator.