Commodore 128D - Using Parentheses to Define the Order of Operations; Constants, Variables and Strings; Constants

Constants,
Variables and
Strings
Exponentiation, or raising a number to a power, takes precedence
over the other four mathematical operations. For example, if you
type:
PRINT 16/4T2 RETUKNr
the Commodore 128 responds with a 1 because it squares the 4
before it divides 16.
Using Parentheses to Define the Order off Operations
You can tell the Commodore 128 which mathematical operation you
want performed first by enclosing that operation in parentheses in
the PRINT command. For instance, in the first example above, if you
want to tell the computer to add before dividing, type:
PRINT (4 + 6)/2 nCTUIUil
This gives you the desired answer, 5.
If you want the computer to divide before squaring in the second
example, type:
PRINT (16/4)T2 RETURN
Now you have the expected answer, 16.
If you don't use parentheses, the computer performs the calcula
tions according to the above rules. When all operations in a calcula
tion have equal precedence, they are performed from left to right.
For example, type:
PRINT 4*5/10*6 HLIUHN
Since the operations in this example are performed in order from left
to right, the result is 12(4*5 = 20.... 20/10 = 2... 2*6= 12). If you
want to divide 4*5 by 10*6 you type:
PRINT(4*5)/(10*6) ULIUHII
The answer is now .333333333.
Constants
Constants are numeric values that are permanent: that is, they do
not change in value over the course of an equation or program. For
example, the number 3 is a constant, as is any number. This state
ment illustrates how your computer uses constants:
10 PRINT 3
No matter how many times you execute this line, the answer will
always be 3.
38 USING C128 MODE—Getting Started in BASIC