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dc:tldr:2a542
dc: Set number of decimal places to 7 (7 k), calculate 5 divided by -3 (5 _3 /) and [p]rint.
$ dc --expression='7 k 5 _3 / p'
try on your machine
The command dc --expression='7 k 5 _3 / p'
is using the dc
utility to evaluate a Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) expression.
In RPN, mathematical operators are placed after their operands instead of between them like in traditional notation. Here's how the command breaks down:
dc
is the command-line tool being used. It stands for "desk calculator" and is commonly found on Unix-like systems.--expression='7 k 5 _3 / p'
is an option passed todc
, specifying the RPN expression to be evaluated.
Let's break down the RPN expression itself:
7
is pushed onto the stack. The stack is a data structure used bydc
to hold intermediate results during the evaluation of RPN expressions.k
duplicates the top value of the stack. So now we have two7
s on the stack.5
is pushed onto the stack._3
pushes a negative value onto the stack (-3 in this case)./
performs division. The top two values (5 and -3) are divided, resulting in -1.6666...p
prints the top value of the stack. In this case, it will output-1.6666...
.
So, the command dc --expression='7 k 5 _3 / p'
calculates the division of 5 by -3 and prints the result, which is approximately -1.6666.
This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and
never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.