spit out the answer

[hhtt21]

"MATLAB spits out the answer to our query conveniently named ans."

Would you explain what spit out means?

I have hardly find the link http://math.hawaii.edu/~gautier/MATLAB_Demystified.pdf

Thank you.

 

[hhtt21]

Definition #4 here should give you an idea.

Yes, thank you but Matlab cannot get angry. This might be a metaphoric usage which the author prefers. There should be non-metaphoric alternatives common in that field and I think those would be more common. Let's wait for other people familiar with the math programs.

I think Matlab spits out the answer=Matlab turns the answer quickly
I think in the above turn an answer is a common expression as give the answer.

Thank you.

 

[SoothingDave]

It's not angry, but it does spit out an answer. It's just colorful language. One can be said to "feed" data to the computer/software. After being fed, it can "chew on it" and then "spit out" an answer.

(This is preferable to being more scatological with the metaphor.)

And it's not "turns the answer." "Returns the answer" is fine.