AppleScript Tutorial: Using Maths in AppleScript

2 March 2009

This tutorial will show you how to do basic mathematic calculations in AppleScript. This tutorial covers the following maths functions:


Variables: Setting maths variables in AppleScript

Setting variables in AppleScript is somewhat easier than other coding languages.

Example AppleScript Code:
--Setting Variables
set var_x to 5
set var_y to 6
set var_c to 5

Addition: Adding numbers in AppleScript

Adding number or addition in AppleScript is pretty straight forward and is like many other coding languages.

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Addition
set result_1 to var_x + var_y + 3.1
display dialog result_1 -- should return 14.1

Subtraction: Subtracting numbers in AppleScript

Subtracting number or subtraction in AppleScript is as easy as addition.

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Subtraction set result_2 to 20 - var_x display dialog result_2 -- should return 15

Division: Dividing numbers in AppleScript

Dividing number or division in AppleScript can be done using the “/” symbol like in many other coding languages.

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Division set result_3 to var_x / var_c display dialog result_3 -- should return 1

Multiplication: Multiplying numbers in AppleScript

Multiplying number or multiplication in AppleScript is again like many other coding languages and uses the “*” symbol.

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Multiplication set result_4 to var_x * var_c display dialog result_4 -- should return 25

Powers: Multiply numbers by a power in AppleScript

In AppleScript, we can use the symbol "^" (keystroke shift + 6) to square or cube a number. The example below shows how to square the variable var_y.

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Powers
set result_5 to var_y ^ 2 --same as var_y * var_y
display dialog result_5 -- should return 36

Rounding: Rounding numbers in AppleScript

Rounding numbers in Applescript is based on english commands and can be easily done as shown in the examples below:

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Rounding Numbers
set result_6 to round 15.2
display dialog result_6 -- should return 15

-- Rounding Up
set result_7 to round 15.2 rounding up
display dialog result_7 -- should return 16

Brackets: Using Brackets in AppleScript

Using backets number or addition in AppleScript is pretty straight forward and is like many other coding languages.

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Brackets
set result_7 to round (var_x + var_y) * (var_c ^ 2)
display dialog result_7 -- should return 275 (which is 11 * 25)

Square Root: How do I calculate a square root in AppleScript?

Calculating the square root in AppleScript can be a little daunting at first but with the help of the code below, you should be doing it in no time. For those mathematicians out there, the square root is simply multiplying a number to the power of 1/2. Therefore with the information already provided above, calculating the square root of any number should be easy.

Example AppleScript Code:
-- Square Root
-- mutliple the number to the power of a 1/2
set square_root to 9 ^ (1 / 2) -- equals 3
set square_root to 16 ^ (1 / 2) -- equals 4
set square_root to 25 ^ (1 / 2) -- equals 5
set square_root to 36 ^ (1 / 2) -- equals 6

And that covers it. To download the complete AppleScript, click download AppleScript below. Download Example AppleScript



Reference Documents

To review the complete AppleScript Guide as well as other AppleScript Guides for MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Adobe Photoshop please review the “Reference Documents” page on this website.
AppleScript Reference Documents

Best of luck with your AppleScripting adventures.

Regards,

Thompson-Solutions

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