function perls () {
    eval "echo \`perl -T -Mstrict -Mwarnings -Mautodie=:all -E '
        my \$ev = eval \"$@\";
        say defined \$ev ? \"\$ev\" : \"$@\";
    '\`"
}

##</code><code>##

$ perls 6*7
42

$ perls 196**.5
14

$ perls 196***.5
Number found where operator expected at (eval 6) line 1, near "*.5"
        (Missing operator before 5?)
196***.5