diff --git a/calculator.rb b/calculator.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c44a45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/calculator.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#define the operation to use for calculation later 
+def add(a,b)
+    return a + b
+end 
+
+def subtract(a,b)
+    return a - b
+end 
+
+def multiply(a,b)
+    return a * b
+end 
+
+def divide(a,b)
+    return a / b
+end 
+
+
+#introduce the program
+puts "Welcome to the calculator program where you are able to either add, subtract, divide, or multiply two numbers."
+
+#take in the numbers and operation the user would like to perform 
+puts "Input your first number--"
+num_1=gets.chomp
+
+#validate their input is actually a number 
+until num_1.to_i.to_s == num_1 || num_1.to_f.to_s == num_1
+    puts "Please only enter a valid number"
+    num_1 = gets.chomp
+end
+num_1 = num_1.to_f
+
+puts "Input the operator you would to use: enter 'add' or '+', 'subtract' or '-', 'divide' or '/', or 'multiply' or '*':"
+command=gets.chomp
+
+#verify their input is a valid operator 
+until %w(add + subtract - divide / multiply *).include? (command)
+    puts "Please choose a valid operation from the following choices: 'add'/'+', 'subtract'/'-', 'divide'/''/', or 'multiply'/'*' "
+    command=gets.chomp
+end 
+
+puts "Input your second number--"
+num_2=gets.chomp
+
+#verify their second input is a number 
+until num_2.to_i.to_s == num_2 || num_2.to_f.to_s == num_2
+    puts "Please only enter a valid number"
+    num_2 = gets.chomp
+end
+num_2= num_2.to_f
+
+#use user inputs to perform the calculations 
+case command 
+when "add", "+"
+    puts add(num_1, num_2)
+when "subtract", "-"
+    puts subtract(num_1, num_2)
+when "divide", "/"
+  if num_2 == 0 #if the user wants to divide a number by zero
+    puts "0"
+  else
+    puts divide(num_1, num_2)
+  end 
+when "multiply", "*"
+    puts multiply(num_1,num_2)
+end