$Problem =~ /(\d*)\s(.)\s(\d*)/; my $Number1 = $1; my $Number2 = $3; my $Operator = $2; my $Answer; if($Operator eq '+') { $Answer = $Number1 + $Number2; } elsif($Operator eq '-') { $Answer = $Number1 - $Number2; } elsif($Operator eq '*') { $Answer = $Number1 * $Number2; } elsif($Operator eq '/') { $Answer = $Number1 / $Number2; }