GWBASIC User's Manual

GW-BASIC User's Guide
Chapter 3
Reviewing and Practicing GW-BASIC
The practice sessions in this chapter will help you review what you have learned. If you have not
done so, this is a good time to turn on your computer and load the GW-BASIC Interpreter.
3.1 Example for the Direct Mode
You can use your computer in the direct mode to perform fundamental arithmetic operations.
GW-BASIC recognizes the following symbols as arithmetic operators:
Operation GW-BASIC Operator
Addition +
Subtraction -
Multiplication*
Division
/
To enter a problem, respond to the Ok prompt with a question mark (?), followed by the
statement of the problem you want to solve, and press the RETURN key. In GW-BASIC, the
question mark can be used interchangeably with the keyword PRINT. The answer is then
displayed.
Type the following and press the RETURN key:
?2+2
GW-BASIC will display the answer on your screen:
?2+2
4
Ok
To practice other arithmetic operations, replace the + sign with the desired operator.
The GW-BASIC language is not restricted to arithmetic functions. You can also enter complex
algebraic and trigonometric functions. The formats for these functions are provided in Chapter 6,
"Constants, Variables, Expressions and Operators."
3.2 Examples for the Indirect Mode
The GW-BASIC language can be used for functions other than simple algebraic calculations.
You can create a program that performs a series of operations and then displays the answer. To
begin programming, you create lines of instructions called statements. Remember that there can
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