Evaluating Postfix Expression


Evaluating a postfix expression involves iterating through each symbol in the expression and performing operations based on whether the symbol is an operand or an operator. Here's a simple algorithm to evaluate a postfix expression:

Algorithm
1.Initialize an empty stack.

2.Scan the expression from left to right:
  •     For each symbol in the expression:If it's an operand (a number), push it onto the stack.
    If it's an operator:
  •     Pop the required number of operands from the stack (e.g., two operands for binary operators).
  •     Perform the operation using the operator and operands.
  •     Push the result back onto the stack.

3.After scanning the entire expression, the result should be on the top of the stack. Pop it to get the final result.

Example:

Expression: 23*5+

Symbol: 2
Stack: [2]

Symbol: 3
Stack: [2, 3]

Symbol: *
Pop two operands (3 and 2), perform 3 * 2, and push the result (6) back.
Stack: [6]

Symbol: 5
Stack: [6, 5]

Symbol: +
Pop two operands (5 and 6), perform 5 + 6, and push the result (11) back.
Stack: [11]

At this point, the expression is fully evaluated, and the result (11) is at the top of the stack.

So, the stack content during the evaluation of 23*5+ was as follows:[2]
[2, 3]
[6]
[6, 5]
[11]

After the entire expression is processed, the final result (11) is at the top of the stack.


C Program- Evaluation of Postfix Expression
/****************************************************************************/
#include <stdio.h>
#include <ctype.h>

#define MAXSTACK 100 
#define POSTFIXSIZE 100 

/* declare stack and its top pointer to be used during postfix expression
evaluation*/
int stack[MAXSTACK];
int top = -1; 
/* define push operation */
void push(int item)
{

    if (top >= MAXSTACK - 1) {
        printf("stack over flow");
        return;
    }
    else {
        top = top + 1;
        stack[top] = item;
    }
}

/* define pop operation */
int pop()
{
    int item;
    if (top < 0) {
        printf("stack under flow");
    }
    else {
        item = stack[top];
        top = top - 1;
        return item;
    }
}

/* define function that is used to input postfix expression and to evaluate it */
void EvalPostfix(char postfix[])
{

    int i;
    char ch;
    int val;
    int A, B;

    /* evaluate postfix expression */
    for (i = 0; postfix[i] != '$'; i++) {
        ch = postfix[i];
        if (isdigit(ch)) {
            /* we saw an operand,push the digit onto stack
ch - '0' is used for getting digit rather than ASCII code of digit */
            push(ch - '0');
        }
        else if (ch == '+' || ch == '-' || ch == '*' || ch == '/') {
            /* we saw an operator
* pop top element A and next-to-top elemnet B
* from stack and compute B operator A
*/
            A = pop();
            B = pop();

            switch (ch) /* ch is an operator */
            {
            case '*':
                val = B * A;
                break;

            case '/':
                val = B / A;
                break;

            case '+':
                val = B + A;
                break;

            case '-':
                val = B - A;
                break;
            default:
                printf("Invalid operator\n");
                exit(1);
            }

            /* push the value obtained above onto the stack */
            push(val);
        }
    }
    printf(" \n Result of expression evaluation : %d \n", pop());
}

int main()
{

    int i;

    /* declare character array to store postfix expression */
    char postfix[POSTFIXSIZE];
    printf("ASSUMPTION: There are only four operators(*, /, +, -) in an expression and operand is single digit only.\n");
    printf(" \nEnter postfix expression,\npress right parenthesis '$' for end expression : ");

    /* take input of postfix expression from user */

    for (i = 0; i <= POSTFIXSIZE - 1; i++) {
        scanf("%c", &postfix[i]);

        if (postfix[i] == '$') 
        {
            break;
        } 
    }

    /* call function to evaluate postfix expression */

    EvalPostfix(postfix);

    return 0;
}





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