qalc1

Usage

Overview

Qalculate! is a multi-purpose cross-platform desktop calculator. It is simple to use but provides power and versatility normally reserved for complicated math packages, as well as useful tools for everyday needs (such as currency conversion and percent calculation). Features include a large library of customizable functions, unit calculations and conversion, physical constants, symbolic calculations (including integrals and equations), arbitrary precision, uncertainty propagation, interval arithmetic, plotting, and a user-friendly interface. qalc is the command line interface of Qalculate!.

Options

-b, --base base

set the number base for results and, optionally, expressions

-c, --color

use colors and formatting to highlight different elements of expressions and results

--defaults

load default settings

-e, --exrates

update exchange rates

-f, --file file

execute commands from a file first

-h, --help

display a list of command line options and exit

-i, --interactive

start in interactive mode

--latex

output in LaTeX format

-l, --list [search term]

display a list of all user-defined or matching variables, functions, units, and prefixes, and exit

--list-functions [search term]

display a list of all or matching functions and exit

--list-prefixes [search term]

display a list of all or matching prefixes and exit

--list-units [search term]

display a list of all or matching units and exit

--list-variables [search term]

display a list of all or matching variables and exit

-m, --time milliseconds

terminate calculation and display of result after specified amount of time

-n, --nodefs

do not load any functions, units, or variables from file

--nocurrencies

do not load any global currencies from file

--nodatasets

do not load any global data sets from file

--nofunctions

do not load any global functions from file

--nounits

do not load any global units from file

--novariables

do not load any global variables from file

-p [base]

start in programming mode (same as -b "base base" -s "xor^", with base conversion)

-s, --set "option value"

as set command in interactive program session (e.g. --set "base 16")

-t, --terse

reduce output to just the result of the input expression

-/+u8

switch unicode support on/off

-v, --version

show application version and exit

The program will start in interactive mode if no expression and no file is specified (or interactive mode is explicitly selected).

Commands

approximate

Equivalent to set approximation try exact.

assume assumptions

Set default assumptions for unknown variables (unknown, non-zero, positive, negative, non-positive, non-negative + number, real, rational, integer, boolean).

base base

Sets the result number base (equivalent to set base).

clear

Clears the screen.

clear history

Clears the expression history.

delete name

Removes the user-defined variable or function with the specified name.
Example: delete var1.

exact

Equivalent to set approximation exact.

expand

Expands the current result.

exrates

Downloads current exchange rates from the Internet.

factor

Factorizes the current result.

find, list [name]

Displays a list of variables, functions, units, and prefixes. Enter with argument 'currencies', 'functions', 'variables', 'units', or 'prefixes' to show a list of all currencies, functions, variables, units, or prefixes. Enter a search term to find matching variables, functions, units, and/or prefixes. If command is called with no argument all user-definied objects are listed.
Example: list functions.
Example: find dinar.
Example: find variables planck.

function name expression

Creates a function with the specified name and expression. Use '\x', '\y', '\z', '\a', etc. for arguments in the expression. The function is persistent unless the command is invoked from file or in result only mode.
Example: function func1 5*\x.

help [command]

history

Lists the expression history.

info name

Displays information about a function, variable, unit, or prefix.
Example: info sin.

keep/unkeep name

Make the temporary user-defined variable or function with the specified name non-temporary.
Example: keep var1.

MC/MS/M+/M-

Memory operations (memory clear, memory store, memory plus, memory minus). Recall the memory using the MR variable.

mode

Displays the current mode.

partial fraction

Applies partial fraction decomposition to the current result.

save, store name [category] [title]

Saves the current result in a variable with the specified name. You may optionally also provide a category (default "Temporary") and a title. If name equals "mode" or "definitions", the current mode and definitions, respectively, will be saved.
Example: store var1.

save definitions

save mode

set option value

to, convert, -> unit/"to"-command

Converts the previous result. Equivalent to using "to" at the end of an expression. Example: to m/s
Example: to bin

variable name expression

Create a variable with the specified name and expression. The variable is persistent unless the command is invoked from file or in result only mode.
Example: variable var1 pi / 2.

quit/exit

Terminates the program.

Commands for RPN mode:

rpn state

(De)activates the Reverse Polish Notation stack and syntax. "syntax" activates only the RPN syntax and "stack" enables the RPN stack. "on" (1) and "off" (0) (de)activates both.

stack

Displays the RPN stack.

clear stack

Clears the entire RPN stack.

copy [index]

Duplicates a value on the RPN stack to the top of the stack. If no index is specified, the top of the stack is duplicated. Index 1 is the top of stack and negative index values count from the bottom of the stack.

move index 1 [index 2]

Changes the position of a value on the RPN stack. Index 1 is the top of stack and negative index values count from the bottom of the stack.
Example: move 2 4

pop [index]

Removes the top of the RPN stack or the value at the specified index. Index 1 is the top of stack and negative index values count from the bottom of the stack.

rotate [direction]

Rotates the RPN stack up (default) or down.

swap [index 1] [index 2]

Swaps position of values on the RPN stack. If no index is specified, the values on the top of the stack (index 1 and index 2) will be swapped and if only one index is specified, the value at this index will be swapped with the top value. Index 1 is the top of stack and negative index values count from the bottom of the stack.
Example: swap 2 4

When a line begins with '/', the text that follows is always interpreted as a command.

Keybindings

Tab (Ctrl+I)

shows a list of functions, variables, and units that matches the last object in the current expression, or, if cursor is at beginning of line or after operator, inserts the previous result (either with text of value, or as a temporary variable for approximate or long values)

Ctrl+A

saves the current result in a temporary variable

Ctrl+D

terminates the program

Ctrl+E

switches between approximation modes (exact, try exact, auto)

Ctrl+F

switches between fraction modes (simple, decimal, auto)

Ctrl+L

clears the screen

Settings

These settings are changed using the set command (e.g. set base 16) or the -s, --set command line option (e.g. qalc -s "base 16"). Possible values are shown in parenthesis. 1 and 0 can be used instead of on and off, yes and no. If the value is left out, a value of 1 is generally assumed. The default value is marked with '*'.

Algebraic mode:

Calculation:

angle unit, angle (0 = none, 1* = radians, 2 = degrees, 3 = gradians, 4 = custom)

Default angle unit for trigonometric functions.

approximation, appr (-1* = auto, 0 = exact, 1 = try exact, 2 = approximate, 3 = dual)

How approximate variables and calculations are handled. In exact mode approximate values will not be calculated.

interval arithmetic, ia (on*, off)

If activated, interval arithmetic determines the final precision of calculations (avoids wrong results after loss of significance) with approximate functions and/or irrational numbers.

interval calculation, ic (1* = variance formula, 2 = interval arithmetic)

Determines the method used for interval calculation / uncertainty propagation.

precision, prec (> 0) 10*

Specifies the default number of significant digits displayed and determines the precision used for approximate calculations.

Enabled objects:

calculate functions, calcfunc (on*, off)

calculate variables, calcvar (on*, off)

complex numbers, cplx (on*, off)

functions, func (on*, off)

infinite numbers, inf (on*, off)

units (on*, off)

unknowns (on, off*)

Interpret undefined symbols in expressions as unknown variables.

variables, var (on*, off)

variable units, varunits (on*, off)

If activated physical constants include units (e.g. c = 299 792 458 m∕s).

Generic display options:

abbreviations, abbr (on*, off)

Use abbreviated names for units and variables.

color (0 = off, 1* = default, 2 = light)

Use colors to highlight different elements of expressions and results.

division sign, divsign (0* = /, 1 = division slash, 2 = division sign)

excessive parentheses, expar (on, off*)

minus last, minlast (on*, off)

Always place negative values last.

multiplication sign, mulsign (0 = *, 1 = multiplication dot, 2* = multiplication x, 3 = middle dot)

short multiplication, shortmul (on*, off)

spacious, space (on*, off)

Add extra space around operators.

spell out logical, spellout (on*, off)

unicode, uni (on*, off)

Display Unicode characters.

unicode exponents, uniexp (0 = off, 1* = on, 2 = units)

Display exponents 0-9 using Unicode superscript characters.

vertical space, vspace (on*, off)

Add empty lines before and after result.

Numerical display:

base (-1114112 - 1114112, bin, oct, dec*, hex, sexa, time, roman)

base display, basedisp (0 = none, 1* = normal, 2 = alternative)

binary bits, bits (0* = auto, >= 2)

complex form, cplxform (0* = rectangular, 1 = exponential, 2 = polar, 3 = cis, 4 = angle)

decimal comma (locale*, off, on)

Determines the default decimal separator.

digit grouping, group (0* = off, 1 = standard, 2 = locale, 3 = underscore)

digits (-1* = auto, >= 2)

Specifies the number of displayed significant digits (by default determined by precision).

exp display, edisp (E*, e, 10)

Determines how scientific notation are displayed (e.g. 3E6, 3e6, or 3 * 10^6).

fractions, fr (-1* = auto, 0 = off, 1 = exact, 2 = on, 3 = mixed, 4 = long, 5 = dual, 1/n)

Determines how rational numbers are displayed (e.g. 5/4 = 1 + 1/4 = 1.25). 'long' removes limits on the size of the numerator and denonimator.

hexadecimal two's, hextwos (on, off*)

Enables two's complement representation for display of negative hexadecimal numbers.

imaginary j, imgj (on, off*)

Use 'j' (instead of 'i') as default symbol for the imaginary unit.

interval display, ivdisp (0* = adaptive, 1 = significant, 2 = interval, 3 = plusminus, 4 = midpoint, 5 = lower, 6 = upper, 7 = concise, 8 = relative)

lowercase numbers, lownum (on, off*)

Use lowercase letters for number bases > 10.

max decimals, maxdeci (-1* = off, >= 0)

min decimals, mindeci (-1* = off, >= 0)

repeating decimals, repdeci (0 = off*, 1 = ellipsis, 2 = overline)

If activated, 1/6 is displayed as '0.1 666...', otherwise as '0.166667'.

rounding (0* = half away from zero, 1 = half to even, 2 = toward zero, 3 = half to odd, 4 = half toward zero, 5 = half up, 6 = half down, 7 = half random, 8 = away from zero, 9 = up, 10 = down)

Determines how approximate numbers are rounded.

scientific notation, exp (0 = off, -1* = auto, -3 = engineering, 1 = pure, 3 = scientific, >= 0, <= -2)

Determines how scientific notation is used (e.g. 5 543 000 = 5.543E6). A value >= 0 specifies the minimum exponent used. A value <= -2 specifies the multiplier used for the exponent.

show ending zeroes, zeroes (on*, off)

If actived, zeroes are kept at the end of approximate numbers.

two's complement, twos (on*, off)

Enables two's complement representation for display of negative binary numbers.

duodecimal symbols, duosyms (on, off*)

Use special symbols for digits 10 and 11 in numbers with base 12.

Parsing:

caret as xor, xor^ (on, off*)

Use ^ as bitwise exclusive OR operator.

concise uncertainty, concise (on, off*)

Allow input of uncertainty using concise notation.

decimal comma (locale*, off, on)

Determines the default decimal separator.

hexadecimal two's input, hextwosin(on, off*)

Enables two's complement representation for input of negative hexadecimal numbers. All hexadecimal numbers starting with 8 or higher are negative, unless binary bits is set.

ignore comma (on, off*)

Allows use of ',' as thousands separator.

ignore dot (on, off*)

Allows use of '.' as thousands separator.

imaginary j, imgj (on, off*)

Use 'j' (instead of 'i') as default symbol for the imaginary unit.

input base, inbase (-1114112 - 1114112, bin, oct, dec*, hex, roman)

limit implicit multiplication, limimpl (on, off*)

parsing mode, syntax (0* = adaptive, 1 = implicit first, 2 = conventional, 3 = chain, 4 = rpn)

See syntax section.

read precision, readprec (0* = off, 1 = always, 2 = when decimals)

If activated, numbers are interpreted as approximations with precision equal to the number of significant digits (3.20 = 3.20+/-0.005).

simplified percentage, percent (on*, off)

Interpret addition/subtraction of percentage as percentage increase/decrease of the first term (100 + 10% = 110).

two's input, twosin (on, off*)

Enables two's complement representation for input of negative binary numbers. All binary numbers starting with 1 are negative, unless binary bits is set.

Units:

all prefixes, allpref (on, off*)

Enables automatic use of hecto, deca, deci, and centi.

autoconversion, conv (0 = none, 1* = optimal, 2 = base, 3 = optimalsi, 4 = mixed)

Controls automatic unit conversion of the result. 'optimalsi' always converts non-SI units, while 'optimal' only converts to unit expressions with less units and exponents.

binary prefixes, binpref (on, off*)

If activated, binary prefixes are used by default for information units.

currency conversion, curconv (on*, off)

Enables automatic conversion to the local currency when optimal unit conversion is enabled.

default currency, currency

denominator prefixes, denpref (on*, off)

Enables automatic use of prefixes in the denominator of unit expressions.

place units separately, unitsep (on*, off)

If activated, units are separated from variables at the end of the result.

prefixes, pref (on*, off)

Enables automatic use of prefixes in the result.

show negative exponents, negexp (on, off*)

Use negative exponents instead of division for units in result (m/s = m*s^-1).

sync units, sync (on*, off)

temperature calculation, temp (0* = hybrid, 1 = absolute, 2 = relative)

Determines how expressions with temperature units are calculated (hybrid acts as absolute if the expression contains different temperature units, otherwise as relative).

update exchange rates, upxrates (-1* = ask, 0 = never, > 0 = days)

Other:

calculate as you type, autocalc (on, off*)

Activates continuous calculation of the currently edited expression.

clear history (yes, no*)

Do not save expression history on exit.

completion (0 = off, 1* = select multiple, 2 = select, 3 = list multiple, 4 = list)

Determines completion action when pressing tab key. "select" shows a numbered list of matches and waits for an item to be selected by entering a number, while "list" returns directly to the expression without input. "select multiple" and "list multiple" completes the word directly if there is only one match.

ignore locale (yes, no*)

Ignore system language and use English (requires restart).

language

max history (>= 0) 100*

Maximum number of expressions kept in history.

prompt

rpn (on, off*)

Activates the Reverse Polish Notation stack.

save config (yes*, no)

If disabled qalc.cfg is never automatically updated.

save definitions (yes*, no)

Save functions, units, and variables on exit.

save mode (yes*, no)

Save settings on exit.

sigint action, sigint (0 = kill, 1* = exit, 2 = interrupt)

Determines how the SIGINT signal (Ctrl+C) is handled.

Examples

Note that semicolon can be replaced with comma, if comma is not used as decimal or thousands separator.

Basic functions and operators

Units

Physical constants

Uncertainty and interval arithmetic
result with interval arithmetic activated is shown in parenthesis

Algebra

Calculus

Matrices and vectors

[1, 2, 3; 4, 5, 6]

= ((1; 2; 3); (4; 5; 6))
= [1 2 3; 4 5 6] (2x3 matrix)

1...5

= (1:5) = (1:1:5)
= [1 2 3 4 5]

(1; 2; 3) * 2 - 2

= [(1 * 2 - 2), (2 * 2 - 2), (3 * 2 - 2)]
= [0 2 4]

[1 2 3].[4 5 6]

= dot([1 2 3]; [4 5 6])
= 32 (dot product)

cross([1 2 3]; [4 5 6])

= [-3 6 -3] (cross product)

[1 2 3; 4 5 6].*[7 8 9; 10 11 12]

= hadamard([1 2 3; 4 5 6]; [7 8 9; 10 11 12])
= [7 16 27; 40 55 72] (hadamard product)

[1 2 3; 4 5 6] * [7 8; 9 10; 11 12]

= [58 64; 139 154] (matrix multiplication)

[1 2; 3 4]^-1

= inverse([1 2; 3 4])
= [-2 1; 1.5 -0.5]

Statistics

Time and date

10:31 + 8:30 to time

= 19:01

10h 31min + 8h 30min to time

= 19:01

now to utc

= "2020-07-10T07:50:40Z"

"2020-07-10T07:50CET" to utc+8

= "2020-07-10T14:50:00+08:00"

"2020-05-20" + 523d

= addDays(2020-05-20; 523)
= "2021-10-25"

today - 5 days

= "2020-07-05"

"2020-10-05" - today

= days(today; 2020-10-05)
= 87

timestamp(2020-05-20)

= 1 589 925 600

stamptodate(1 589 925 600)

= "2020-05-20T00:00:00"

"2020-05-20" to calendars

returns date in Hebrew, Islamic, Persian, Indian, Chinese, Julian, Coptic, and Ethiopian calendars

Number bases