mysql store calculation

I'm trying to do what seems like a simple task on the surface.

is it possible to store calculations in mysql and run them later on?

for example if I had a field with " 1 + 1 "

how could I execute that and have it return "2" ?

Why not just write an if statement, as well as a form so when a user enters 1 + 1 it echoes two?

let me explain a little more, though I'm thinking this is actually a php issue, not mysql.

what I need to do is store mathematical equations like this:

"GST * ( QST * AMT / 100 ) / 100"

i then run a function on it to replace some of the string values with numbers. like this:

"4.82 * ( 8.55 * 15 / 100 ) / 100"

it prints out as a string, but how can I now execute this?

Ok, i got it. this should have been in the php forum.

answer is to use eval().

eval("return $calc;");