Commodore Plus 4 - Page 18

6 The BASIC Language
BASIC solves compound mathematical problems in this order:
First Priority: Exponentiation
Second Priority: Multiplications and divisions
Third Priority: Additions and subtractions
Fourth Priority: Comparison operations
Fifth Priority: Logical NOTs
Sixth Priority: Logical ANDs
Seventh Priority: Logical ORs
When a problem contains more than one calculation from each priority group,
the problems of the same priority are solved left to right.
Parentheses override this priority scheme. BASIC solves parts of a problem
that are enclosed in parentheses before any other parts of a calculation. Multiple
problems within parentheses are solved according to the standard priority order.
Problems can contain multiple sets of parentheses, but you must be sure that the
number of left parentheses equals the number of right parentheses. When paren
theses are nested within parentheses, the calculations in the innermost set of
parentheses are solved first. *
Comparison, or Relational, Operators
BASIC recognizes six symbols that are used to compare two values. These
symbols, which are called either comparison operators or relational operators,
are described in Table 1-3. The comparison operators can be used to compare
constants, variables, numbers, or text strings.
Table 1-3. Comparison Operators
> The left-side value is greater than the right-side value.
< The left-side value is less than the right-side value.
= The values are equal.
<> or >< The values are not equal.
=> or >= The left-side value is equal to or greater than the right-side value.
<= or =< The left-side value is less than or equal to the right-side value.
Logical Operators
You can also use logical operators in calculations and in comparisons of values.
There are three logical operators: AND, OR, and NOT. These operators are also