Calculator for Prefix, Postfix, and Infix

Expressions

Team Members
-Shashwat Yadav (1DT23AI051)
-Akshobhya (1DT23AI006)
-Aviral (1DT23AI011)
-Nithin T A (1DT23AI038)
Agenda / Topics
•Introduction
•Problem Statement
•Real World Use
•Methodology
•Analysis and Design
•Implementation
•Testing
•Conclusion and Future Scope
Project Definition
The project aims to develop a Java-based calculator capable of evaluating mathematical
expressions in Prefix, Postfix, and Infix notations. The calculator will incorporate features to
handle:
•Operator precedence: Ensures proper evaluation of expressions involving multiple operators.
•Parentheses: Allows grouping of subexpressions for correct computation.
•Exponentiation: Supports advanced mathematical operations such as powers.

Key Objectives:
•Accurate Results: Implements robust algorithms to evaluate expressions and produce precise
outputs.
•Error Handling: Provides user-friendly error messages for invalid inputs, such as unmatched
parentheses or unsupported operators.
•Intuitive GUI: Offers a simple and interactive graphical interface for users to input
expressions and view results.
.
Real-World Examples
•Banking Sector: Calculates loan EMIs and compound interest formulas.
•Tax Calculations: Evaluates income tax slabs, exemptions, and GST.
•Financial Analysis: Computes stock market indicators and portfolio metrics.
•Inventory Management: Optimizes stock replenishment using expression
parsers.
•Game Development: Evaluates in-game physics and AI decision-making.
•Robotics: Parses logical expressions for motion planning and obstacle
avoidance.
•Data Visualization Tools: Interprets mathematical formulas for dynamic
charting.
•Scientific Research: Solves complex equations in simulations and modeling.
Methodology
User Input:
The user provides a mathematical expression in one of the three notations: Prefix,
Postfix, or Infix.
The input is entered through a text field in the GUI, ensuring ease of use and real-time
interaction.
Expression Parsing and Evaluation:
Postfix Evaluation:
Postfix expressions (Reverse Polish Notation) are evaluated using a stack. Each
operand is pushed onto the stack. When an operator is encountered, the operands
are popped, the operation is performed, and the result is pushed back onto the stack.
Prefix Evaluation:
Prefix expressions (Polish Notation) are evaluated similarly, but in reverse order. We
process the expression from right to left, applying the same stack-based approach.
Infix Evaluation:
Infix expressions are evaluated by considering operator precedence and parentheses.
The algorithm uses two stacks: one for operands and another for operators.
Parentheses are handled by ensuring operations within them are evaluated first.
•Operator Precedence and Handling:
• Operators like +, -, *, /, and ^ (for exponentiation) have different precedence levels. The higher-
precedence operators are evaluated first, ensuring correct order of operations in the expression.
• A utility function (precedence()) compares the precedence of operators and decides whether to
process the current operator or defer it.
•Error Handling:
• If the user enters an invalid expression (e.g., mismatched parentheses or invalid characters), the
program will catch the error and display an appropriate message, preventing crashes or incorrect
results.
•GUI Development:
• The graphical user interface (GUI) is developed using Java Swing, which provides interactive
components like buttons, text fields, and labels.
• The user can select the type of expression (Postfix, Prefix, or Infix) using a dropdown menu.
• When the user clicks on "Evaluate", the program processes the expression based on the selected
mode, evaluates it, and displays the result in the output area.
•Result Display and Output:
• Once the expression is evaluated, the result is displayed in a non-editable text area. If there's an
error in the expression, the error message will be shown instead.
• The GUI ensures that the user can easily see the output, making the tool both functional and user-
friendly.
Analysis and Design
Problem Analysis:
The problem involves evaluating mathematical expressions in Prefix, Postfix, and Infix
notations.
Key challenges: handling operator precedence, parentheses, and error management.
Requirement for a user-friendly interface to accept input and display results.
Design Considerations:
Algorithm Selection:
Stack-based algorithms are used for Postfix and Prefix evaluation, ensuring efficient
processing of expressions.
Infix expressions are parsed by handling operator precedence and parentheses using
two stacks.
GUI Design:
Interactive elements (buttons, text fields, labels) built using Java Swing for ease of
user interaction.
System Design:
•Class Structure:
•ExpressionEvaluatorGUI: Manages the GUI components.
•evaluatePostfix(), evaluatePrefix(), evaluateInfix(): Separate methods for
evaluating each type of expression.
•applyOp(): Performs arithmetic operations based on operator precedence.
•Flowchart: A step-by-step representation of the input-processing-output cycle.
•Input: User enters an expression.
•Processing: Expression is parsed and evaluated.
•Output: Result is displayed in the GUI.
•Modular Design:
•The system is modular, with clearly defined methods and a clean separation of
concerns, ensuring easy maintainability and extension.
Sample Output
Implementation
•Java-based Solution:
Implements evaluation for infix, postfix, and prefix notations.
•Graphical User Interface (GUI):
Built using Java Swing for user-friendly input and output.
Allows users to input expressions, choose the evaluation mode, and view results.
•Expression Evaluation:
•Stacks are used to parse and compute expressions efficiently.
•Infix Evaluation: Dynamically handles operator precedence and parentheses.
•Postfix/Prefix Evaluation: Processes tokens sequentially using stacks.
•Multi-digit Number Support:
Ensures calculations work correctly for numbers with multiple digits.
•Expression Validation:
Checks for valid inputs to prevent syntax errors.
Includes exception handling for invalid inputs and division by zero.
•Error Handling:
Provides user-friendly messages for invalid operations and errors.
Future Scope:
Enhanced GUI:
Add features like history tracking for past calculations and expression highlighting for better
visualization.
Support for Variables:
Expand functionality to evaluate expressions with variables (e.g., 2x + 3y) and user-defined constants.
Graph Plotting:
Integrate graphing capabilities to plot mathematical functions and visualize results.
Custom Themes:
Allow users to personalize the calculator's appearance with different themes and layouts.
Scientific Mode:
Include advanced functions like trigonometry, logarithms, and matrix operations.
Mobile Compatibility:
Develop a mobile version of the calculator for on-the-go use.
Voice Input:
Enable voice recognition for inputting expressions hands-free.
Integration with APIs:
Connect with external APIs to fetch real-time data for finance or physics-related calculations.
Conclusion:
The project successfully delivered a Java-based calculator capable of
evaluating Prefix, Postfix, and Infix expressions with accuracy and
efficiency. By leveraging stack-based algorithms, it ensures robust parsing
and computation of complex expressions, including operator precedence
and parentheses. The integration of a user-friendly GUI, built with Java
Swing, enhances the accessibility and usability of the tool. This project not
only demonstrates the practical application of data structures like stacks
but also sets a foundation for extending the calculator with advanced
features in the future.