using expr

[punchykool]

How do I get `expr` to recognize a decimal?
Say I want to multiply some whole number by .05.

expr 50000 \* .05

On my Sun OS 5.6 machine, this command yields:
"expr: syntax error"

I also tried protecting the dot, but that did not help either.
Perhaps there are other soutions. Thanks in advance.

 

[vgersh99]

man bc

echo '50000 * 0.05' | bc


vlad
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+----------------------------+

 

[stefanwagner]

echo $((500 * 5))

works too, but only for integer values, which seems to be true for 'expr' too.

So use bc as shown above, or

echo "scale=2; 17/3" | bc

to get two decimal-digits, if you have bc.

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