How to Calculate using Windows Command Line

Generally, for doing any calculation on Windows, we use a calculator or some application, but other than that, we can also use Windows Command Line, i.e., Command Prompt. Calculating arithmetic expressions on the command line is more straightforward and expressive. Because when solving some complex logic, the command line comes in very handy. In this article, we will see how you can calculate using the Windows Command Line, i.e., Windows Command Prompt.

DOS Shell has a built-in mini calculator to perform the simple arithmetic calculation on 32 bit signed integers. The “SET” with /a switch DOS command is used to perform calculations on the command line.

To know more about this command type set /? at the command prompt.

set /a expression

Here are some expression below

C:\>set /a 3+3 will output 6
C:\>set /a 3*3 will output 9
C:\>set /a  8/4 will output 2
C:\>set /a 2+2 will output 4
C:\>set /a 5*(2/2)+10 will output 15
C:\>set /a (5*2)/2+10 will output 15
C:\>set /a “15>>2” will output 3

It also supports other types of operators. While using a logical or modulus operator, always enclose the expression string in quotes.

The following table lists the operators supported for /a in descending order of precedence.

Operator	Operation performed
< >	Grouping
* / % + –	Arithmetic
<< >>	Logical shift
&	Bitwise AND
^	Bitwise exclusive OR
|	Bitwise OR
= *= /= %= += -= &= ^= |= <<= >>=	Assignment
,	Expression separator

Note: It overflow values for decimal integer. It eliminates the decimal point value and round of the integer. i.e 9/2 will result in 4 instead of 4.5