LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Reverse Polish Notation
built 644 days ago
The basic reverse Polish calculator algorithm is to key in a number. If you can perform a calculator operation do it. If not, press ENTER. Then repeat until the complete expression is evaluated. The following flow graph summarizes the algorithm.
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Only three short years ago, the HP-35 (featuring Reverse Polish Rotation) was introduced and soon won the praise and acceptance oof engineers everywhere at an initial $395. But on a struct cost/performance basis, the "veteran" of portable scientific calculators could be headed toward early retirement. Hewlett-Packard's latest pocket marvel, the scientific HP-21 at $125, retails $70 below the current price of an HP-35! Not only is the HP-21 cheaper, it ... includes a degree/radian switch and handles inverse trig functions, two useful features its older brother lacks. Using fewer batteries and logic chips than any other H-P portable calculator, the HP-21 operates five hours on a full charge.
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Reverse Polish notation was invented by Australian philosopher and computer scientist Charles Hamblin in the mid-1950s, to enable zero-address memory stores. Hamblin presented his work at a conference in June 1957, and published it in 1957 and 1962.
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Aside from computer programmers, not many engineers had heard of reverse Polish notation until Hewlett Packard introduced the HP35 calculator in 1972. It was a non-programmable, four-function scientific calculator with only one memory register. It had a light emitting diode display that drew so much current from the batteries that an ac charger came with the calculator. To keep the batteries charged, most people left the calculator connected to the charger when possible. The calculator sold for $395. In 1973, the price was reduced to $295.
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Reverse Polish Notation is a special form of writing mathematical expressions. This form is used because it is easier for a computer program to read in the expression and use it. For example, to write
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Upn, reverse polish notation expr like tool, has support for floating point, trigonometrics, precision setting, comparison. Examples: a=`upn 1 2 +` if upn $a $b lt; then echo $b is smaller than a; fi
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Reverse Polish Notation