Example of constructing an arithmetic expression:

An arithmetic expression may be proceeded by a + or - sign. These operations are known as unary + or unary - operators.

Illustrations of the valid arithmetic expressions are:

Note that whenever the right-hand side of a COMPUTE verb is a single identifier or literal, then the effect is that of a MOVE statement.

Illustration:

                       COMPUTE    A = B + C

has similar effect as that of the ADD B  C  GIVING  A

Illustration:

                       COMPUTE     F =   1.8 * C + 32

The value of the expression on the right-hand side is computed and this value is then moved to the F.  Assume that the C & F are defined with pictures 99 & ZZ9.9 respectively and the present value of C is 3.  Subsequently after the execution of the statement, the F will have the value 37.4.