use strict; my $linein = 'jlla jldsfjlfj lfla (1\p=n-\5) fk (2) ljljj ljlfaufi lfjlakfh (10, 11) lfjdlaj (10, 11\p=n-\15) ndsfdjksnk (2, 15, 16) dkhfak'; my $lineout = 'jlla jldsfjlfj lfla (1\p=n-\5) fk (2) ljljj ljlfaufi lfjlakfh (10, 11) lfjdlaj (10, 11\p=n-\15) ndsfdjksnk (2, 15, 16) dkhfak'; my $copy = $linein; $copy =~ s!(\d+)!$1!g; if ( $copy eq $lineout ) { print( "Success!\n" ); } else { print( "Failure!\n" ); }