How can PHP developers improve code readability and maintainability by adhering to standard conventions for variable naming and data type handling, especially when working with numerical values in calculations?

When working with numerical values in calculations, PHP developers can improve code readability and maintainability by adhering to standard conventions for variable naming and data type handling. This includes using descriptive variable names, following a consistent naming convention (such as camelCase or snake_case), and ensuring that variables are properly typed and casted to avoid unexpected results or errors.

// Example of adhering to standard conventions for variable naming and data type handling when working with numerical values in calculations

// Good variable naming and data type handling
$totalPrice = 100.50;
$discountPercentage = 10;
$discountAmount = $totalPrice * ($discountPercentage / 100);
$finalPrice = $totalPrice - $discountAmount;

echo "Total Price: $totalPrice\n";
echo "Discount Percentage: $discountPercentage%\n";
echo "Discount Amount: $discountAmount\n";
echo "Final Price: $finalPrice\n";