Options used along with the bc command<\/h3>\n
Unlike most of the commands in Linux, the bc command has only a few options associated with it. Let us take a brief look at each one of them:<\/p>\n
1. -h<\/strong><\/p>\n This option prints the help menu of the bc command, as shown below:<\/p>\n 2. -i<\/strong><\/p>\n This option forces the bc command to interactive mode. You can also write this option as “–interactive.”<\/p>\n 3. -l<\/strong><\/p>\n This option defined the standard math library. You can also write this option as “–mathlib.”<\/p>\n 4. -w<\/strong><\/p>\n This option gives warnings for extensions to POSIX bc. You can also write this option as “–warn.”<\/p>\n 5. -s<\/strong><\/p>\n This option processes the POSIX bc language. You can also write this option as “–standard.”<\/p>\n 6. -q<\/strong><\/p>\n This option does not print the normal GNU bc welcome. You can also write this option as “–quiet.”<\/p>\n 7. -v<\/strong><\/p>\n This option prints the information about the version of the bc command:<\/p>\n Remember that we touch on some of the many great and superior features of the bc command, well here is the complete list of the features the bc command supports:<\/p>\n 1. Arithmetic operators Let us look at each of the features in slightly more detail, along with some examples, to understand them better.<\/p>\n Arithmetic operators consist of basic daily math problems involving addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, exponents, and modulus division. To perform such operations, all you have to do is to pipe the bc command with an echo command which contains the problem. Use the syntax shown below:<\/p>\n Storing a value in a variable<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember that I told you that the bc command could handle variables? Well, it can, but how do we store a value in a variable? We simply put the variables in front of the echo command, and when we want to print the answer, we call the variable using the echo command by preceding it with a dollar sign. Use the syntax shown below:<\/p>\n Assignment operators are more like a shortcut for writing long arithmetic numerals. Let us look at them to get a better idea of how they work:<\/p>\n 1. variable = value: assigning a value to a variable Note<\/strong>: we can combine multiple echo statements by simply separating them by a semicolon (;)<\/p>\n Let us look at an example for each of the seven assignment variables to understand their working better.<\/p>\n Increment operators are also another way of writing arithmetic numerical in short notation. Let us look at them to get a better idea of how they work:<\/p>\n a. variable++<\/strong><\/p>\n The increment operator is the same as (variable=variable+1) or (variable+=1). This operator is called the post-increment operator, as the variable result is used first, and then the variable is incremented.<\/strong><\/p>\n b. ++variable<\/strong><\/p>\n The increment operator is the same as (variable=variable+1) or (variable+=1). You must be wondering, as this is similar to the “variable++” operator. Well, there is one key difference – this operator is called the pre-increment operator, as the variable is increased first, and then the variable result is stored.<\/p>\n c. variable–<\/strong><\/p>\n The increment operator is the same as (variable=variable-1) or (variable-=1). This operator is called the post-decrement operator, as the variable result is used first, and then the variable is decreased.<\/p>\n d. –variable<\/strong><\/p>\n The increment operator is the same as (variable=variable-1) or (variable-=1). Therefore, you might think this is similar to the “variable–” operator. However, there is one key difference – This operator is called the pre-decrement operator, as the variable is decreased first, and then the variable result is stored.<\/p>\n Let us look at an example for each of the four assignment variables to understand their working better.<\/p>\n Relational operators are used for comparing two numbers. If it is true, the result is 1. Otherwise (if the comparison is true), the result is 0. Let us look at them to get a better idea of how they work:<\/p>\n 1. expr1<expr2 : Outputs 1 if expr1 is less than expr2. Let us look at an example for each of the six assignment variables to understand their working better.<\/p>\n Logical operators are slightly more intimidating. Thankfully there are only a few of them. We will be mainly focusing on: “Logical and”, “Logical or”, and “Logical negation (!)”. These are used to club two or more relational statements to narrow down the condition even more. Let us look at how these work before we see an example.<\/span><\/p>\n a. Logical and operator (&&)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The “logical and operator” will be true if the conditions are true. If not, it will be false, meaning it will be false if any one or both of the conditions are true. It is denoted by two ampersand symbols (&&). To understand this operator better, let us look at the truth table enclosed with different scenarios:<\/span><\/p>\n![\"help\"](\"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/help-1.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nFeatures of bc command in Linux<\/h3>\n
\n2. Increment or Decrement operators
\n3. Assignment operators
\n4. Relational operators
\n5. Logical or Boolean operators
\n6. Math functions
\n7. Conditional statements
\n8. Iterative statements<\/p>\n1. Linux Arithmetic operators<\/h4>\n
echo \u201c<num1> <operator> <num2>\u201d | bc<\/pre>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<variable>=`echo \u201c<num1> <operator> <num2>\u201d | bc`\r\necho $<variable><\/pre>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Assignment operators in Linux<\/h4>\n
\n2. variable += value : same as (variable = variable + value)
\n3. variable -= value :same as (variable = variable \u2013 value)
\n4. variable *= value : same as (variable = variable * value)
\n5. variable \/= value : same as (variable = variable \/ value)
\n6. variable ^= value : same as (variable = variable ^ value)
\n7. variable %= value : same as (variable = variable % value)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n3. Linux Increment and decrement operators<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Linux Relational operators<\/h4>\n
\n2. expr1<=expr2 : Outputs 1 if expr1 is less than or equal to expr2.
\n3. expr1>expr2 : Outputs 1 if expr1 is greater than expr2.
\n4. expr1>=expr2 : Outputs 1 if expr1 is greater than or equal to expr2.
\n5. expr1==expr2 : Outputs 1 if expr1 is equal to expr2.
\n6. expr1!=expr2 : Outputs 1 if expr1 is not equal to expr2.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n5. Linux Logical operators<\/span><\/h4>\n