Using calculator in UNIX

UNIX provides both INFIX and POSTFIX calculators.

INFIX is when the operations are embedded within the operators
12*2

POSTFIX is when the operators are listed down and then followed by operations.
12 2 *

So, now to use infix calculator type the command "bc"
bash-3.00$ bc
Nothing happend. Now type in what you need to calculate and the system gives you output
1*2
2
1*2+3
5
2+3*2
8

Ok, now how to get out of this? Its simple. "quit"
.
.
2+3*2
8
quit
bash-3.00$

Various powerful options with bc command:

Find square root?

bash-3.00$ bc
sqrt(16)
4
similarly use below:


Postfix calculator:

user command "dc"

bash-3.00$ dc
2
3
*
p
6
2 3 *
p
6
2 3 * 4 +
p
10
Use "p" to print the result of your calculation.

sqrt(n) Square root of n

% Remainder

^ To the power of (3^5 is 3 to the power of 5)

s(n) Sine(n)

c(n) Cosine(n)

e(n) Exponential(n)

l(n) Log(n)