in reply to Simple Arithmetic Question

just for fun, and not really aderent to your request(use suggestion from wiser monks) but in TimToady spirit..
perl -MEnglish -e "map { $LIST_SEPARATOR=$_; print qq(@ARGV=), eval qq +(@ARGV),qq(\n)} qw(+ - * / %)" 1 2 3 1+2+3=6 1-2-3=-4 1*2*3=6 1/2/3=0.166666666666667 1%2%3=1

L*

There are no rules, there are no thumbs..
Reinvent the wheel, then learn The Wheel; may be one day you reinvent one of THE WHEELS.