Question

Evaluate this postfix expression: 1 2 3 2 ^ * (Hint: Use a stack.)

a) 12

b) 18

c) 24

d) 36

Answer 1

To evaluate the postfix expression 1 2 3 2 ^ *, we use a stack to push numbers and perform operations, resulting in the answer 9.

Step-by-step explanation:

To evaluate a postfix expression, we can use a stack. In this expression, we start by pushing the numbers onto the stack. When we encounter an operator, we pop the top two numbers from the stack, perform the operation, and push the result back onto the stack. For this expression, the steps would be:

1. Push 1 onto the stack
2. Push 2 onto the stack
3. Push 3 onto the stack
4. Pop 3 and 2 from the stack, calculate 3 ^ 2 = 9, and push 9 onto the stack
5. Pop 9 and 1 from the stack, calculate 9 * 1 = 9

So, the answer to the postfix expression 1 2 3 2 ^ * is 9.