Arithmetic Expressions
Expressions calculate values which can then be used as operands in conditional and arithmetic statements. Arithmetic expressions are built up from operands and operators under a strict hierarchy and precedence.
In general, any arithmetic expression can be:
- An elementary numeric item such as:
- A numeric literal (integer or decimal)
- An identifier describing an elementary numeric item
- The figurative constant ZERO (ZEROS, ZEROES)
- Numeric functions
- An arithmetic expression surrounded by parentheses
- An arithmetic expression preceded by a unary operator (+, -)
- Two arithmetic expressions separated by a binary arithmetic operator (+, -, *, /, **)
Identifiers and literals appearing in arithmetic expressions must represent either numeric elementary items or numeric literals on which arithmetic may be performed.