Using advanced math

In this recipe, you will learn how to use multiple math operations in a single line of LiveCode script. You will use operator precedence and nested operations. To facilitate this, we will use the common math trick where a person is asked to choose a number, and then perform the following operations on that number, the result always being 3:

1. Choose a number.
2. Add 5.
3. Double the result.
4. Subtract 4.
5. Divide the result by 2.
6. Subtract the number you started with.

   The result is always 3

How to do it...

Follow the steps in this recipe to program a multiple-step mathematical operation:

1. Open LiveCode and create a new main stack.
2. Set the background color of the default card to black.
3. Drag a button to the card and set the following properties:
   • Name: btn_GetNumber
   • Label: Choose a Number
   • Width: 122
   • Height: 23
   • Location: 71, 29
   • threeD: Keep this unchecked
   • backgroundColor: White
4. Drag a new text entry field to the card and set the following properties:
   • Name: fld_nbr1
   • Width: 88
   • Height: 31
   • Location: 276, 23
   • Font...