[SOLVED] how to multiply an integer with a decimal using shell scripting?

ivahbee · 10-30-2014, 12:49 AM

I cant seem to get an answer when i multiply an integer with a decimal.

e.g a=5.14
b=7

answer=`expr $a \* $b`
echo "answer = $answer"

When i run it on the terminal, it keeps saying
expr: non-integer argument
answer=

Can someone help me?
Tell me where im going wrong?

ondoho · 10-30-2014, 03:35 AM

install bc if it isn't installed already.
read its documentation:

Code:

man bc

pan64 · 10-30-2014, 03:38 AM

the shell itself (bash) cannot handle decimals, you need to use something else to do that: bc, perl, awk, dc just to name a few.