Use of Stack

 Example of use: prefix, infix, postfix

expressions.
 Consider the expression A+B: we think of
applying the operator “+” to the operands
A and B.
 “+” is termed a binary operator: it takes
two operands.
 Writing the sum as A+B is called the infix
form of the expression.

1
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Two other ways of writing the expression
are

+AB prefix
AB+ postfix

 The prefixes “pre” and “post” refer to the

position of the operator with respect to the
two operands.
2
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Consider the infix expression
A+B*C
 We “know” that multiplication is done
before addition.
 The expression is interpreted as
A+(B*C)
 Multiplication has precedence over
addition.
3
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

A+(B*C) infix form

4
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

A+(B*C) infix form

A+(BC*) convert multiplication

5
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

A+(B*C) infix form

A+(BC*) convert multiplication
A(BC*)+ convert addition

6
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

A+(B*C) infix form

A+(BC*) convert multiplication
A(BC*)+ convert addition
ABC*+ postfix form

7
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

(A + B ) * C infix form

8
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

(A + B ) * C infix form
(AB+)*C convert addition

9
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

(A + B ) * C infix form
(AB+)*C convert addition
(AB+)C* convert multiplication

10
Prefix, Infix, Postfix
 Conversion to postfix

(A + B ) * C infix form
(AB+)*C convert addition
(AB+)C* convert multiplication
AB+C* postfix form

11
Precedence of Operators
 The five binary operators are: addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division and
exponentiation.
 The order of precedence is (highest to
lowest)
 Exponentiation 
 Multiplication/division *, /
 Addition/subtraction +, -
12
Precedence of Operators
 For operators of same precedence, the
left-to-right rule applies:

A+B+C means (A+B)+C.

 For exponentiation, the right-to-left rule

applies

A  B  C means A  ( B  C )

13
Infix to Postfix
Infix Postfix
A+B AB+

12 + 60 – 23 12 60 + 23 –

(A + B)*(C – D ) AB+CD–*

A  B * C – D + E/F A B  C*D – E F/+

14
Infix to Postfix
 Note that the postfix form an expression
does not require parenthesis.
 Consider ‘4+3*5’ and ‘(4+3)*5’. The
parenthesis are not needed in the first but
they are necessary in the second.
 The postfix forms are:
4+3*5 435*+
(4+3)*5 43+5*

15
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Consider the infix expressions ‘A+B*C’
and ‘ (A+B)*C’.
 The postfix versions are ‘ABC*+’ and
‘AB+C*’.
 The order of operands in postfix is the
same as the infix.
 In scanning from left to right, the operand
‘A’ can be inserted into postfix expression.
16
Converting Infix to Postfix
 The ‘+’ cannot be inserted until its second
operand has been scanned and inserted.
 The ‘+’ has to be stored away until its
proper position is found.
 When ‘B’ is seen, it is immediately inserted
into the postfix expression.
 Can the ‘+’ be inserted now? In the case
of ‘A+B*C’ cannot because * has
precedence.
17
Converting Infix to Postfix
 In case of ‘(A+B)*C’, the closing
parenthesis indicates that ‘+’ must be
performed first.
 Assume the existence of a function
‘prcd(op1,op2)’ where op1 and op2 are
two operators.
 Prcd(op1,op2) returns TRUE if op1 has
precedence over op2, FASLE otherwise.

18
Converting Infix to Postfix
 prcd(‘*’,’+’) is TRUE
 prcd(‘+’,’+’) is TRUE
 prcd(‘+’,’*’) is FALSE

19
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A

20
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +

21
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +

22
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*

23
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*
C ABC +*

24
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*
C ABC +*
ABC * +

25
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: A + B * C
symb postfix stack
A A
+ A +
B AB +
* AB +*
C ABC +*
ABC * +
ABC * +

26
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Handling parenthesis
 When an open parenthesis ‘(‘ is read, it
must be pushed on the stack.
 This can be done by setting prcd(op,‘(‘ ) to
be FALSE.
 Also, prcd( ‘(‘,op ) == FALSE which
ensures that an operator after ‘(‘ is pushed
on the stack.
27
Converting Infix to Postfix
 When a ‘)’ is read, all operators up to the
first ‘(‘ must be popped and placed in the
postfix string.
 To do this, prcd( op,’)’ ) == TRUE.
 Both the ‘(‘ and the ‘)’ must be discarded:
prcd( ‘(‘,’)’ ) == FALSE.
if( s.empty() || symb != ‘)’ )
s.push( c );
else
s.pop(); // discard the ‘(‘
28
Converting Infix to Postfix

prcd( ‘(‘, op ) = FALSE for any operator

prcd( op, ‘(’ ) = FALSE for any operator
other than ‘)’
prcd( op, ‘)’ ) = TRUE for any operator
other than ‘(‘
prcd( ‘(‘,’)’ ) == FALSE.
prcd( ‘)’, op ) = error for any operator.

 Here is the algorithm that converts infix

expression to its postfix form.
29
Converting Infix to Postfix
1. Stack s;
2. While( not end of input ) {
3. c = next input character;
4. if( c is an operand )
5. add c to postfix string;
6. else {
7. while( !s.empty() && prcd(s.top(),c) ){
8. op = s.pop();
9. add op to the postfix string;
10. }
11. if( s.empty() || c != ‘)’ )
12. s.push( c );
13. else
14. s.pop(); // discard the ‘(‘
15. }
16. while( !s.empty() ) {
17. op = s.pop();
18. add op to postfix string; 30
19. }
Converting Infix to Postfix
 Example: (A + B) * C
symb postfix stack
( (
A A (
+ A (+
B AB (+
) AB +
* AB + *
C AB + C *
AB + C *
31
Evaluating Postfix
 Each operator in a postfix expression
refers to the previous two operands.
 Each time we read an operand, we push it
on a stack.
 When we reach an operator, we pop the
two operands from the top of the stack,
apply the operator and push the result
back on the stack.

32
Evaluating Postfix
Stack s;
while( not end of input ) {
e = get next element of input
if( e is an operand )
s.push( e );
else {
op2 = s.pop();
op1 = s.pop();
value = result of applying operator ‘e’ to op1 and op2;
s.push( value );
}
}
finalresult = s.pop();

33
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6

34
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2

35
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3

36
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5

37
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1

38
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3

39
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8

40
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2

41
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4

42
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7

43
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7

44
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2

45
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49

46
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49
3 7 2 49 49,3

47
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49
3 7 2 49 49,3
+ 49 3 52 52
48
Evaluating Postfix
Evaluate 6 2 3 + - 3 8 2 / + * 2  3 +
Input op1 op2 value stack
6 6
2 6,2
3 6,2,3
+ 2 3 5 6,5
- 6 5 1 1
3 6 5 1 1,3
8 6 5 1 1,3,8
2 6 5 1 1,3,8,2
/ 8 2 4 1,3,4
+ 3 4 7 1,7
* 1 7 7 7
2 1 7 7 7,2
 7 2 49 49
3 7 2 49 49,3
+ 49 3 52 52
49