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:
  1. 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
  2. An arithmetic expression surrounded by parentheses
  3. An arithmetic expression preceded by a unary operator (+, -)
  4. 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.