how to do math on string fields

[Matt-Barrett]

I have a drain pipe layer that includes fields for upstream elevation, downstream elevation, and length.  I want to calculate the slope.  However, the fields are all string fields.  Is there a way to do this in ArcGIS Pro without adding or otherwise changing the fields?  I remember in the old days with avenue you could use a thing like {field}.asnumber or {field}.asstring to a calculate function to do stuff like this, but I don't know if there's a way to do it in Pro.  Thanks!

[JoeBorgione]

Use the field calulator with python and the int() function.

[Matt-Barrett]

Thank you.

But would that round up my decimals?  

[Robert_LeClair · Accepted solution]

Related you could use the field calculator with Python and the float() function then.

[Matt-Barrett]

that sounds perfect!  Thanks!

[JoshuaBixby]

Please mark one of the replies as correct to close out the question once you get it working.

[Matt-Barrett]

So I used the float function.  It mostly worked.  Ended up with values in scientific notation.  Got it worked out in the end though, so thank you to those who replied.

[JoshuaBixby]

Matthew, I unmarked your reply and marked Robert's as the answer since your comment saying thanks isn't really the answer to your own question.