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What is a postfix expression?

Updated: 11/4/2022
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The operator comes after the operands. E.g., 1 + 2 becomes 1 2 + while 1 + 2 + 3 becomes 1 2 3 + +.

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Q: What is a postfix expression?
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What is the difference between prefix and postfix increment operator in c plus plus?

Both the prefix and the postfix increment operators increment the operand. The difference is what is the value of the expression during the evaluation of the expression. In the prefix form, the value is already incremented. In the postfix form, it is not. int a = 1; int b = ++a; // both a and b are now equal to 2 int a = 1; int b = a++; // a is equal to 2 and b is equal to 1


Minimum size of stack to evaluate postfix expression?

Scan the postfix expression from left to right and count the number of values and the number of operators. The maximum value of their difference is the required stack size. Eg: 1 2 3 + 4 + * 1 2 3 2 3 2 1 The maximum is 3.


What is prefix expression?

Example: prefix: * 2 + 3 4 infix: 2 * (3+4) postfix: 2 3 4 + *


Infix to postfix C?

Infix Expression :Any expression in the standard form like "2*3-4/5" is an Infix(Inorder) expression.Postfix Expression :The Postfix(Postorder) form of the above expression is "23*45/-".Infix to Postfix Conversion :In normal algebra we use the infix notation like a+b*c. The corresponding postfix notation is abc*+. The algorithm for the conversion is as follows :Scan the Infix string from left to right.Initialise an empty stack.If the scannned character is an operand, add it to the Postfix string. If the scanned character is an operator and if the stack is empty Push the character to stack. If the scanned character is an Operand and the stack is not empty, compare the precedence of the character with the element on top of the stack (topStack). If topStack has higher precedence over the scanned character Pop the stack else Push the scanned character to stack. Repeat this step as long as stack is not empty and topStack has precedence over the character.Repeat this step till all the characters are scanned.(After all characters are scanned, we have to add any character that the stack may have to the Postfix string.) If stack is not empty add topStack to Postfix string and Pop the stack. Repeat this step as long as stack is not empty.Return the Postfix string.Example :Let us see how the above algorithm will be imlemented using an example.Infix String : a+b*c-dInitially the Stack is empty and our Postfix string has no characters. Now, the first character scanned is 'a'. 'a' is added to the Postfix string. The next character scanned is '+'. It being an operator, it is pushed to the stack.StackPostfix StringNext character scanned is 'b' which will be placed in the Postfix string. Next character is '*' which is an operator. Now, the top element of the stack is '+' which has lower precedence than '*', so '*' will be pushed to the stack.StackPostfix StringThe next character is 'c' which is placed in the Postfix string. Next character scanned is '-'. The topmost character in the stack is '*' which has a higher precedence than '-'. Thus '*' will be popped out from the stack and added to the Postfix string. Even now the stack is not empty. Now the topmost element of the stack is '+' which has equal priority to '-'. So pop the '+' from the stack and add it to the Postfix string. The '-' will be pushed to the stack.StackPostfix StringNext character is 'd' which is added to Postfix string. Now all characters have been scanned so we must pop the remaining elements from the stack and add it to the Postfix string. At this stage we have only a '-' in the stack. It is popped out and added to the Postfix string. So, after all characters are scanned, this is how the stack and Postfix string will be :StackPostfix StringEnd result :Infix String : a+b*c-dPostfix String : abc*+d-


Why do compilers convert infix expressions to postfix?

people almost exclusively use infix notation to write mathematical expressions, computer languages almost exclusively allow programmers to use infix notation. However, if a compiler allowed infix expressions into the binary code used in the compiled version of a program, the resulting code would be larger than needed and very inefficient. Because of this, compilers convert infix expressions into postfix notation expressions, which have a much simpler set of rules for expression evaluation. Postfix notation gets its name from the fact that operators in a postfix expression follow the operands that they specify an operation on. Here are some examples of equivalent infix and postfix expressions Infix Notation Postfix Notation 2 + 3 2 3 + 2 + 3 * 6 3 6 * 2 + (2 + 3) * 6 2 3 + 6 * A / (B * C) + D * E - A - C A B C * / D E * + A C * - Where as infix notation expressions need a long list or rules for evaluation, postfix expressions need very few.

Related questions

Why you need convert a expression into postfix expression?

You convert an (infix) expression into a postfix expression as part of the process of generating code to evaluate that expression.


What is the difference between prefix and postfix increment operator in c plus plus?

Both the prefix and the postfix increment operators increment the operand. The difference is what is the value of the expression during the evaluation of the expression. In the prefix form, the value is already incremented. In the postfix form, it is not. int a = 1; int b = ++a; // both a and b are now equal to 2 int a = 1; int b = a++; // a is equal to 2 and b is equal to 1


What is a 'post fix expression' in java programming?

Postfix expressions are expressions where the operator is at the end of the expression. These include the "++" (increment) and "--" (decrement) operators. Most Java expressions use in-fix notation (e.g. "a + b") but the increment and decrement operators can be postfix ("e.g. "a++" to increment variable a) or even prefix (e.g. "++a").


Evaluate a post fix expression?

Okay, here is a postfix expression: 3 4 * 5 6 * + the evaluation: 3*4 + 5*6 12 + 30 42


Minimum size of stack to evaluate postfix expression?

Scan the postfix expression from left to right and count the number of values and the number of operators. The maximum value of their difference is the required stack size. Eg: 1 2 3 + 4 + * 1 2 3 2 3 2 1 The maximum is 3.


What is prefix expression?

Example: prefix: * 2 + 3 4 infix: 2 * (3+4) postfix: 2 3 4 + *


Sample program of postfix to infix?

You can convert from postfix to infix through the use of stacks. Consider the following expression conversion:54+67*+ -> ((5+4)+(6*7))The way this can be achieved is that whenever you encounter an operator, pop the last two expressions and join them using the operator. Remember to include the open braces before the first expression and a close braces after the second expression. Check the given link below for the program:


Write an algorithm in c to convert an infix expression to a postfix expressionexecute your algorithm with the following infix expression as your input. m nk pgh a bc?

An algorithm can not be written with the following infix expression without knowing what the expression is. Once this information is included a person will be able to know how to write the algorithm.


Infix to postfix C?

Infix Expression :Any expression in the standard form like "2*3-4/5" is an Infix(Inorder) expression.Postfix Expression :The Postfix(Postorder) form of the above expression is "23*45/-".Infix to Postfix Conversion :In normal algebra we use the infix notation like a+b*c. The corresponding postfix notation is abc*+. The algorithm for the conversion is as follows :Scan the Infix string from left to right.Initialise an empty stack.If the scannned character is an operand, add it to the Postfix string. If the scanned character is an operator and if the stack is empty Push the character to stack. If the scanned character is an Operand and the stack is not empty, compare the precedence of the character with the element on top of the stack (topStack). If topStack has higher precedence over the scanned character Pop the stack else Push the scanned character to stack. Repeat this step as long as stack is not empty and topStack has precedence over the character.Repeat this step till all the characters are scanned.(After all characters are scanned, we have to add any character that the stack may have to the Postfix string.) If stack is not empty add topStack to Postfix string and Pop the stack. Repeat this step as long as stack is not empty.Return the Postfix string.Example :Let us see how the above algorithm will be imlemented using an example.Infix String : a+b*c-dInitially the Stack is empty and our Postfix string has no characters. Now, the first character scanned is 'a'. 'a' is added to the Postfix string. The next character scanned is '+'. It being an operator, it is pushed to the stack.StackPostfix StringNext character scanned is 'b' which will be placed in the Postfix string. Next character is '*' which is an operator. Now, the top element of the stack is '+' which has lower precedence than '*', so '*' will be pushed to the stack.StackPostfix StringThe next character is 'c' which is placed in the Postfix string. Next character scanned is '-'. The topmost character in the stack is '*' which has a higher precedence than '-'. Thus '*' will be popped out from the stack and added to the Postfix string. Even now the stack is not empty. Now the topmost element of the stack is '+' which has equal priority to '-'. So pop the '+' from the stack and add it to the Postfix string. The '-' will be pushed to the stack.StackPostfix StringNext character is 'd' which is added to Postfix string. Now all characters have been scanned so we must pop the remaining elements from the stack and add it to the Postfix string. At this stage we have only a '-' in the stack. It is popped out and added to the Postfix string. So, after all characters are scanned, this is how the stack and Postfix string will be :StackPostfix StringEnd result :Infix String : a+b*c-dPostfix String : abc*+d-


Why do compilers convert infix expressions to postfix?

people almost exclusively use infix notation to write mathematical expressions, computer languages almost exclusively allow programmers to use infix notation. However, if a compiler allowed infix expressions into the binary code used in the compiled version of a program, the resulting code would be larger than needed and very inefficient. Because of this, compilers convert infix expressions into postfix notation expressions, which have a much simpler set of rules for expression evaluation. Postfix notation gets its name from the fact that operators in a postfix expression follow the operands that they specify an operation on. Here are some examples of equivalent infix and postfix expressions Infix Notation Postfix Notation 2 + 3 2 3 + 2 + 3 * 6 3 6 * 2 + (2 + 3) * 6 2 3 + 6 * A / (B * C) + D * E - A - C A B C * / D E * + A C * - Where as infix notation expressions need a long list or rules for evaluation, postfix expressions need very few.


What is postfix in Linux?

Postfix in Linux is an open source software used to setup mail servers.


Prefix to postfix conversion using C programming?

#include<stdio.h> #include<conio.h> #include<string.h> char symbol,s[10]; int F(symbol) { switch(symbol) { case '+': case '-':return 2; case '*': case '/':return 4; case '^': case '$':return 5; case '(':return 0; case '#':return -1; default :return 8; } } int G(symbol) { switch(symbol) { case '+': case '-':return 1; case '*': case '/':return 3; case '^': case '$':return 6; case '(':return 9; case ')':return 0; default: return 7; } } void infix_to_postfix(char infix[],char postfix[]) { int top=-1,j=0,i,symbol; s[++top]='#'; for(i=0;i<strlen(infix);i++) { symbol=infix[i]; while(F(s[top])>G(symbol)) { postfix[j]=s[top--]; j++; } if(F(s[top])!=G(symbol)) s[++top]=symbol; else top--; } while(s[top]!='#') { postfix[j++]=s[top--]; } postfix[j]='\0'; } void main() { char infix[30],postfix[30]; clrscr(); printf("Enter the valid infix expression\n"); scanf("%s",infix); infix_to_postfix(infix, postfix); printf("postfix expression is \n %s", postfix); getch(); }