bc(1)                      DG/UX 4.30                       bc(1)



     NAME
          bc - arbitrary-precision arithmetic language

     SYNOPSIS
          bc [ -c ] [ -l ] [ file ... ]

     DESCRIPTION
          Bc is an interactive processor for a language that resembles
          C but provides essentially unlimited precision arithmetic.
          It takes input from any files given, then reads the standard
          input.  The -l argument stands for the name of an arbitrary
          precision math library.  The syntax for bc programs is as
          follows; L means letters a-z, E means expression, and S
          means statement.

          Comments
                Enclosed in /* and */.

          Names
                Simple variables: L
                Array elements: L [ E ]
                The words ibase, obase, and scale

          Other operands
                Arbitrarily long numbers with optional sign and
                decimal point.
                ( E )
                sqrt ( E )
                length ( E )   number of significant decimal digits
                scale ( E )    number of digits right of decimal point
                L ( E , ... , E )

          Operators
                + - * / % ^ (% is remainder; ^ is power)
                ++  --    (prefix and postfix; apply to names)
                == <= >= != < >
                = =+ =- =* =/ =% =^

          Statements
                E
                { S ; ... ; S }
                if ( E ) S
                while ( E ) S
                for ( E ; E ; E ) S
                null statement
                break
                quit

          Function definitions
                define L ( L ,..., L ) {
                     auto L, ... , L
                     S; ... S



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     bc(1)                      DG/UX 4.30                       bc(1)



                     return ( E )
                }

          Functions in -l math library
                   s(x) Sine
                   c(x) Cosine
                   e(x) Exponential
                   l(x) Log
                   a(x) Arctangent
                   j(n,x)    Bessel function

          All function arguments are passed by value.

          The value of a statement that is an expression is printed
          unless the main operator is an assignment.  Either
          semicolons or new-lines may separate statements.  Assignment
          to scale influences the number of digits to be retained on
          arithmetic operations in the manner of dc(1).  Assignments
          to ibase or obase set the input and output number radix
          respectively.

          You can use the same letter as an array, a function, and a
          simple variable simultaneously.  All variables are global to
          the program.  "Auto" variables are pushed down during
          function calls.  When using arrays as function arguments or
          defining them as automatic variables, you must place empty
          square brackets after the array name.

          Bc is actually a preprocessor for dc(1), which it invokes
          automatically, unless the -c (compile only) option is
          present.  In this case, the dc input is sent to the standard
          output instead.  Bc is terminated by CRTL-D (^d).


     EXAMPLES
          $ bc
          scale=5 <nl>
          12567/234 <nl>

          53.70512
            The processor returns the result of the expression.

          $

          This example divides 12567 by 234 and prints the result with
          a precision of 5 decimal places.

     FILES
          /usr/lib/lib.b Mathematical library
          /usr/bin/dc    Desk calculator

     SEE ALSO



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     bc(1)                      DG/UX 4.30                       bc(1)



          dc(1).

     BUGS
          && and || are not implemented in DG/UX.
          For statement must have all three Es.
          Quit is interpreted when read, not when executed.

















































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