In zsh you could use noglob to make this nicer: zmodload zsh/mathfunc _calc() { echo $[$*] } alias c='noglob _calc' Then: % c 2 * atan(1, 0) 3.141

In zsh you could use noglob to make this nicer: zmodload zsh/mathfunc _calc() { echo $[$*] } alias c='noglob _calc' Then: % c 2 * atan(1, 0) 3.1415926535897931 (Although this works with any command, using an alias with qalc as pointed out above might be more useful.)