Lecture No.

07

Data Structures

Dr. Sohail Aslam

Infix to Postfix
Infix Postfix
A+B AB+
12 + 60 – 23 12 60 + 23 –
(A + B)*(C – D ) AB+CD–*
A  B * C – D + E/F A B  C*D – E
F/+
Infix to Postfix
 Note that the postfix form an
expression does not require
parenthesis.
 Consider ‘4+3*5’ and ‘(4+3)*5’. The
parenthesis are not needed in the
first but they are necessary in the
second.
 The postfix forms are:
4+3*5 435*+
(4+3)*5 43+5*
Evaluating Postfix
 Each operator in a postfix
expression refers to the previous
two operands.
 Each time we read an operand, we
push it on a stack.
 When we reach an operator, we
pop the two operands from the top
of the stack, apply the operator and
push the result back on the stack.
Evaluating Postfix
Stack s;
while( not end of input ) {
e = get next element of input
if( e is an operand )
s.push( e );
else {
op2 = s.pop();
op1 = s.pop();
value = result of applying operator ‘e’ to op1 and
op2;
s.push( value );
}
}
finalresult = s.pop();
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49
3 7 2 49 49,3
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49
3 7 2 49 49,3
+ 49 3 52 52
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49
3 7 2 49 49,3
+ 49 3 52 52
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Consider the infix expressions
‘A+B*C’ and ‘ (A+B)*C’.
 The postfix versions are ‘ABC*+’
and ‘AB+C*’.
 The order of operands in postfix is
the same as the infix.
 In scanning from left to right, the
operand ‘A’ can be inserted into
postfix expression.
Converting Infix to Postfix
 The ‘+’ cannot be inserted until its
second operand has been scanned
and inserted.
 The ‘+’ has to be stored away until
its proper position is found.
 When ‘B’ is seen, it is immediately
inserted into the postfix expression.
 Can the ‘+’ be inserted now? In the
case of ‘A+B*C’ cannot because *
has precedence.
Converting Infix to Postfix
 In case of ‘(A+B)*C’, the closing
parenthesis indicates that ‘+’
must be performed first.
 Assume the existence of a
function ‘prcd(op1,op2)’ where
op1 and op2 are two operators.
 Prcd(op1,op2) returns TRUE if op1
has precedence over op2, FASLE
otherwise.
Converting Infix to Postfix
 prcd(‘*’,’+’) is TRUE
 prcd(‘+’,’+’) is TRUE
 prcd(‘+’,’*’) is FALSE
 Here is the algorithm that
converts infix expression to its
postfix form.
 The infix expression is without
parenthesis.
Converting Infix to Postfix
1. Stack s;
2. While( not end of input ) {
3. c = next input character;
4. if( c is an operand )
5. add c to postfix string;
6. else {
7. while( !s.empty() && prcd(s.top(),c) ){
8. op = s.pop();
9. add op to the postfix string;
10. }
11. s.push( c );
12. }
13. while( !s.empty() ) {
14. op = s.pop();
15. add op to postfix string;
16. }
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*
C ABC +*
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*
C ABC +*
ABC * +
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*
C ABC +*
ABC * +
ABC * +
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Handling parenthesis
 When an open parenthesis ‘(‘ is
read, it must be pushed on the
stack.
 This can be done by setting
prcd(op,‘(‘ ) to be FALSE.
 Also, prcd( ‘(‘,op ) == FALSE which
ensures that an operator after ‘(‘ is
pushed on the stack.
Converting Infix to Postfix
 When a ‘)’ is read, all operators up
to the first ‘(‘ must be popped and
placed in the postfix string.
 To do this, prcd( op,’)’ ) == TRUE.
 Both the ‘(‘ and the ‘)’ must be
discarded: prcd( ‘(‘,’)’ ) == FALSE.
 Need to change line 11 of the
algorithm.
Converting Infix to Postfix
if( s.empty() || symb != ‘)’ )
s.push( c );
else
s.pop(); // discard the ‘(‘

prcd( ‘(‘, op ) = FALSE for any operator

prcd( op, ‘(’ ) = FALSE for any operator
other than ‘(’
prcd( op, ‘)’ ) = TRUE for any operator
other than ‘(‘
prcd( ‘)’, op ) = error for any operator.