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Using bc

If we save the bc script above as foo.bc, we can run it this way:


[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc foo.bc

bc 1.06.94

Copyright 1991-1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This is free software with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. For details type `warranty'.

4

[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc foo.bc

bc 1.06.94

Copyright 1991-1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This is free software with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. For details type `warranty'.

4


If we look carefully, we can see the result at the very bottom, after the copyright message. This message can be suppressed with the -q (quiet) option.

bc can also be used interactively:


[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc -q 2 + 2

4

quit

[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc -q 2 + 2

4

quit


When using bc interactively, we simply type the calculations we wish to perform, and the results are immediately displayed. The bc command quit ends the interactive ses- sion.

It is also possible to pass a script to bc via standard input:


[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc < foo.bc

4

[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc < foo.bc

4


The ability to take standard input means that we can use here documents, here strings, and pipes to pass scripts. This is a here string example:



[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc <<< "2+2"

4

[me@linuxbox ~]$ bc <<< "2+2"

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