bc Command in Linux With Examples

In Linux, the bc command is a powerful tool for performing mathematical calculations. The bc command can be used in scripts or on the command line to perform calculations, set variables, and even write scripts. In this article, we will discuss the bc command in Linux and provide practical examples to illustrate its use.

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax for the bc command is as follows:

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The options are used to modify the behavior of the bc command. The file argument is optional and specifies the input file for the bc command. If no file is specified, bc will read from standard input.

bc Command Examples

Basic Calculation

To perform a basic calculation using the bc command, simply enter the equation on the command line. For example:

echo "5+3" | bc 

Output:
8

In this example, we use the echo command to input the equation “5+3” into the bc command. The bc command then calculates the result, which is 8.

Setting Variables

You can set variables in the bc command using the “variable=value” syntax. For example:

echo "x=5; y=3; x+y" | bc 

Output:
8

In this example, we set the variables “x” and “y” to 5 and 3, respectively. We then perform the calculation “x+y”, which gives us a result of 8.

Using Math Functions

The bc command includes many built-in math functions that can be used in calculations. For example:

echo "scale=2;sqrt(25)" | bc -l 

Output:
5.00

In this example, we use the “sqrt()” function to calculate the square root of 25. We also set the “scale” variable to 2, which specifies the number of decimal places to display in the result. The “-l” option is used to load the math library, which includes the “sqrt()” function.

Using Loops

The bc command also supports loops, which can be used to repeat calculations. For example:

echo "for (i=1; i<=5; i++) { print i }" | bc 

Output:
1
2
3
4
5

In this example, we use a "for" loop to print the numbers 1 through 5. The "print" statement is used to output each number on a new line.

Conclusion

The bc command is a powerful tool for performing mathematical calculations in Linux. By understanding the basic syntax and options of the bc command, as well as the examples provided in this article, you can use the bc command to perform complex calculations and automate tasks in your scripts and programs.