Easytrieve Multiplication Operator (*)

Basic Syntax

TARGET = operand1 * operand2. PAY = HOURS * RATE. TAX = GROSS * TAX-RATE. Literal 0.10 means multiply by one-tenth—ten percent. Literal 10 means multiply by ten—not ten percent. Beginners confuse 0.10 versus 10—document rate conventions in program header comments.

1
2
3
BONUS = GROSS * 0.05
TAX   = GROSS * TAX-RATE ROUNDED
PAY   = (REG-HRS + OT-HRS) * HOURLY-RATE

Percentage Patterns

Rate fields TAX-RATE W 3 P 4 may store 0.0825 for eight and quarter percent—multiply GROSS * TAX-RATE without literal. VALUE on DEFINE can seed default rate. Rates change by tax year—field rate easier to update than recompile literals when driven from parm dataset in advanced patterns.

Precedence Over Addition

RESULT = A + B * C evaluates B * C first. NET = GROSS + BONUS * PCT adds bonus product to gross—not gross plus bonus times pct unless grouped: NET = (GROSS + BONUS) * PCT for different business rule. IF GROSS * 0.10 GT LIMIT multiplies before GT comparison. Parentheses document intent when mixing operators.

Intermediate Field Sizing

DEFINE PROD-HOLD W 11 P 4 before TAX = GROSS * RATE ROUNDED into W 7 P 2 TAX. Multiplying 9999999.99 by 0.9999 needs digit room—product hold wider than operands prevents overflow. Rule of thumb: hold digits sum of operand integer digits plus decimal places plus guard.

1
2
3
DEFINE PROD-HOLD W 11 P 4
PROD-HOLD = GROSS * TAX-RATE
TAX-AMT   = PROD-HOLD ROUNDED

ROUNDED on Multiply Assignment

Currency tax lines often use ROUNDED: TAX = GROSS * RATE ROUNDED stores cents per policy. Without ROUNDED, extra fraction digits truncate or convert per default rules—penny drift across thousands of employees matters. Match ROUNDED usage to COBOL legacy if migrating parallel systems.

Hours Times Rate

PAY = HOURS * RATE classic timecard. OT-PAY = OT-HRS * RATE * 1.5 chains two multiplies— evaluate left to right at same * precedence: (OT-HRS * RATE) * 1.5. Parentheses clarify OT = OT-HRS * (RATE * 1.5) when rate already includes factor—different shop rules.

Multiply by Zero

PRODUCT = AMOUNT * 0 yields zero—valid. IF RATE EQ 0 may guard before downstream divide by rate. Zero gross times rate yields zero tax—branch may skip PUT detail line.

Multiply in IF Conditions

IF GROSS * 0.10 GT LIMIT tests whether ten percent of gross exceeds limit—common tier bonus gate. Ensure GROSS NUMERIC before multiply in condition on FILE data. Display GROSS * 0.10 in debug only via assignment to hold—IF cannot DISPLAY inline product without prior assign in classic batch.

Relation to Division

Multiply and divide share precedence level—left to right among them. A / B * C may parse as (A / B) * C. Recover original from percent: if TAX = GROSS * RATE then GROSS = TAX / RATE when RATE non-zero—division page covers guard.

Common Multiplication Mistakes

• Literal 10 instead of 0.10 for ten percent.
• Undersized target after product.
• Missing ROUNDED on currency tax line.
• Wrong precedence with add—use parens.
• Multiply on unvalidated FILE packed field.
• Confusing * with exponentiation **.

Explain It Like I'm Five

Times means copies of a pile. Three times four is four added three times. Percent is a special small times number—0.10 times your dollars means ten cents per dollar. Times goes before plus unless parentheses say do the plus part first. The answer box must be big enough for the big pile you get.

Exercises

1. Compute five percent bonus with ROUNDED.
2. Evaluate A + B * C for sample values by hand.
3. Size PROD-HOLD for two P 2 operands multiply.
4. Write OT pay with rate times 1.5 factor.
5. IF condition testing ten percent gross against limit.