PHP: Composition of operations
Suppose we want to calculate an expression like 3 * 5 - 2? This is how we'd write it down:
<?php
print_r(3 * 5 - 2); // => 13
Note that the interpreter performs arithmetic operations in the right order: first division and multiplication, then addition and subtraction. Sometimes we want to change the order of operations. We'll dig into this topic in the next lesson.
Or another example:
<?php
print_r(2 * 4 * 5 * 10); // 2 * 4 * 5 * 10 = 8 * 5 * 10 = 40 * 10 => 400
We can combine operations, which allows us to calculate even more complex compound expressions. This property of operations is called composition. The composition of arithmetic operations in programming is similar to how it's done in school. As you'll later learn, the composition of operations applies to all operations in general, not just arithmetic operations.
To visualize how calculations are done inside the interpreter, let's look at an example: 2 * 4 * 5 * 10.
- First we calculate
2 * 4and get8 * 5 * 10. - Then
8 * 5. The result is40 * 10. - Finally, we do the last multiplication, and the result is
400.
Instructions
Write a program that calculates and prints the value of this expression:
8 / 2 + 5 - -3 / 2
Don't calculate anything manually, your program should do all the calculations on its own.
The exercise doesn't pass checking. What to do? 😶
If you've reached a deadlock it's time to ask your question in the «Discussions». How ask a question correctly:
- Be sure to attach the test output, without it it's almost impossible to figure out what went wrong, even if you show your code. It's complicated for developers to execute code in their heads, but having a mistake before their eyes most probably will be helpful.
In my environment the code works, but not here 🤨
Tests are designed so that they test the solution in different ways and against different data. Often the solution works with one kind of input data but doesn't work with others. Check the «Tests» tab to figure this out, you can find hints at the error output.
My code is different from the teacher's one 🤔
It's fine. 🙆 One task in programming can be solved in many different ways. If your code passed all tests, it complies with the task conditions.
In some rare cases, the solution may be adjusted to the tests, but this can be seen immediately.
I've read the lessons but nothing is clear 🙄
It's hard to make educational materials that will suit everyone. We do our best but there is always something to improve. If you see a material that is not clear to you, describe the problem in “Discussions”. It will be great if you'll write unclear points in the question form. Usually, we need a few days for corrections.
By the way, you can participate in courses improvement. There is a link below to the lessons course code which you can edit right in your browser.