If you are new to Python, you should probably stop reading here. But, if you have used Python and numpy, then read on. Before, that try these bits of code.

import numpy
a = numpy.array([1,2])
a = a + 0.5j
print a

The “same thing”, in a slightly different way.

import numpy
a = numpy.array([1,2])
a += 0.5j
print a

Both the code blocks, look really the same, until you look carefully. Under normal circumstances a = a + b and a += b behave exactly similarly, and we really don’t need to bother about the differences between them.

But, +=, which is an augmented assignment operator, actually tries to perform the operation in-place, unlike the other statement where + actually returns a new object which is again being referenced by the name a.

But, when dealing with numpy arrays, this will lead to trouble. When assigning to an array, it’s dtype is not changed and hence the trouble.

The right way to use the augmented assignment operator, would be:

import numpy
a = numpy.array([1,2], dtype=complex)
a += 0.5j
print a

The same thing is explained in this thread. Also, Thanks to Bhanukiran for asking me this.