The Programming Language BASIC

Abstract

Here are the most important commands in BASIC (Commodore version):

• ABS assigns a number its absolute value. Example: PRINT ABS(3) results in 3, PRINT ABS(-3) also results in 3.

• AND combines two logical expressions so as to give the result of “true” if both expressions are “true.”

• ASC assigns an ASCII number to a character. Example: PRINT ASC(“A”) results in 65.

• CHR$ is the inverse function of ASC. Every integer between 0 and 255 is assigned its own ASCII character. Example: the command PRINT CHR$(65) produces the letter A.

• CLR erases all variables (i.e., assigns to numerical variables the value of 0 and to character sequence variables the value of an empty sequence. It also flushes all dimension-alization of tables and subroutine addresses.

• CONT continues the program run after hitting the stop button or after carrying out the commands STOP or END.

• DATA/READ/RESTORE are commands that store and read data in a program.