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Explain Mathematical Commands Used in Linux.

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59 views

Explain Mathematical Commands Used in Linux.

Uploaded by

hshshahs166
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Absolutely! Let's explore the mathematical commands you can wield within the Linux terminal.

Built-in Arithmetic in Bash

The Bash shell itself can handle basic arithmetic operations within double parentheses (( )) or
using the let command.

● Double Parentheses:
Bash
echo $((5 + 3)) # Output: 8
result=$((10 * 2))
echo $result # Output: 20

● let Command:
Bash
let result=15/3
echo $result # Output: 5

You can use standard operators like +, -, *, /, and % (modulo) for addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and remainder, respectively.

The expr Command

The expr command is another versatile tool for evaluating expressions. Remember to escape
operators like * with a backslash \ within expr.

Bash

expr 5 + 8 # Output: 13
expr 20 \* 4 # Output: 80

The bc Command (Basic Calculator)

bc is a powerful arbitrary-precision calculator language. It can handle floating-point calculations,


more complex functions, and even scripts.

Bash

echo "scale=2; 10 / 3" | bc # Output: 3.33


echo "sqrt(25)" | bc # Output: 5

The awk Command

awk is primarily a text-processing tool, but its ability to handle arithmetic makes it handy for
calculations within data streams.

Bash

echo 5 8 | awk '{print $1 + $2}' # Output: 13

Other Specialized Commands

● factor: Decomposes integers into prime factors.


Bash
factor 12 # Output: 12: 2 2 3

● dc: A reverse-polish notation calculator.


Bash
echo "5 8 + p" | dc # Output: 13

Important Considerations

● Integer Arithmetic: By default, most Linux arithmetic commands perform integer arithmetic.
If you need floating-point calculations, use bc or configure the scale variable in bc or awk.
● Escape Characters: Remember to escape special characters like * within expr using
backslashes.
● Command Substitution: You can embed arithmetic expressions within command
substitution $(()) to perform calculations directly within commands.

Feel free to ask if you have any specific calculations in mind or want to explore a particular
command in more detail. I'm here to help you master the mathematical prowess of your Linux
terminal!

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