Interactive data analysis usually occurs on the R console that executes commands as you type them. There are several ways to gain access to an R console. One way is to simply start R on your computer. The console looks something like this:

As a quick example, try using the console to calculate a 15% tip on a meal that cost $19.71:

0.15 * 19.71  
#> [1] 2.96

Note that in this book, grey boxes are used to show R code typed into the R console. The symbol #> is used to denote what the R console outputs.