Problem 1307. RPN Calculator for simple arithmetic expressions

Created by Muthu Annamalai

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Reverse-Polish-Notation (RPN) is a machine friendly form of calculating expressions. Example, to evaluate, (1+2)*4 + 5 - 3 you enter the sequence into the calculator as, '5 1 2 + 4 * + 3 -' and obtain the result.
For this challenge write a RPN calculator for simple arithmetic expressions, '+','-','*','%','/'
Note: Chosen interpretations of operators, illustrated from first few test cases, are as follows: rpn('a','b','-') is interpreted as 'a-b', while rpn('a','b','/') is interpreted as 'b/a'. and rpz('a','b','%') which is interpreted as 'b%a'.
with operator '%' 'b % a' being mod(b,a) operator.
Following your 'stack' solution to http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/cody/problems/1303-is-the-paranthesis-sequence-balanced try using a expression, and a value stack to work this problem.
Hint: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_Polish_notation

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Last Solution submitted on Jun 23, 2025

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Alfonso Nieto-Castanon on 1 Mar 2013

in your test suite it seems odd that rpz('a','b','-') is interpreted as 'a-b' while rpz('a','b','/') is interpreted as 'b/a' (instead of 'a/b'). Same goes for rpz('a','b','%') which is interpreted as 'b%a' instead of 'a%b'. Last, your last test case rpn(z(1),'+',z(2),'*',z(1),z(3),'-',z(4),z(5),'%','*') is plain weird... it should probably read rpn(z(1),z(2),'+',z(1),'*',z(3),'-',z(4),z(5),'%','*') instead...

Muthu Annamalai on 2 Mar 2013

Thank you for your comments; I will update the description and fix last test case.

Muthu Annamalai on 22 Mar 2013

I will retire the last test case for the problem.

Baki on 6 Nov 2016

I have an rpn solver but it only accepts strings

ChrisR on 21 Aug 2022

Would someone please check the first test? The variable z is commented out.

Dyuman Joshi on 21 Aug 2022

Chris, the format of the test cases has been corrected, you can attempt the question now.

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Problem 1307. RPN Calculator for simple arithmetic expressions

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Problem 1307. RPN Calculator for simple arithmetic expressions

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