POSTFIX NOTATION Meaning and
Definition
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Postfix notation, also known as Reverse Polish Notation (RPN), is a mathematical notation in which the operators come after their operands. In this notation, each arithmetic expression is written with the operands followed by the appropriate operator. By using postfix notation, the need for parentheses to indicate the order of operations is eliminated.
In postfix notation, every arithmetic expression is evaluated from left to right, one operator at a time. The operators have a fixed arity, meaning they require a specific number of operands to perform the operation. The values are pushed onto a stack and when an operator is encountered, the operands are popped from the stack and the operator is applied to them. The result is then pushed back onto the stack.
This notation is particularly useful in computer science and computing systems because it allows for efficient processing of arithmetic expressions. It eliminates the need for parsing operations and parentheses, making it easier to evaluate expressions with a computer program.
Postfix notation is commonly used in some programming languages, such as Forth and PostScript, as well as in calculators and mathematical software. It provides a straightforward and unambiguous representation of mathematical expressions, simplifying their evaluation and eliminating the potential for confusion or ambiguity.
Common Misspellings for POSTFIX NOTATION
- oostfix notation
- lostfix notation
- -ostfix notation
- 0ostfix notation
- pistfix notation
- pkstfix notation
- plstfix notation
- ppstfix notation
- p0stfix notation
- p9stfix notation
- poatfix notation
- poztfix notation
- poxtfix notation
- podtfix notation
- poetfix notation
- powtfix notation
- posrfix notation
- posffix notation
- posgfix notation
Etymology of POSTFIX NOTATION
The word "postfix notation" comes from combining two terms: "postfix" and "notation".
1. "Postfix" originates from the Latin word "post" meaning "after" or "behind" and the word "fixus" meaning "fixed" or "attached". In mathematics and computer science, the term "postfix" is used to describe a notation system where operators are placed after their operands. This term was coined by Friedrich L. Bauer in the mid-20th century.
2. "Notation" comes from the Latin word "notare" meaning "to mark" or "to note". It refers to a system of representing something using written or symbolic characters. In this context, "notation" refers to a specific way of writing mathematical expressions.
Thus, "postfix notation" refers to a system of mathematical notation in which operators are written after their operands.
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