bash: Numeric Arguments

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1 8.4.5 Specifying Numeric Arguments
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1 'digit-argument (M-0, M-1, ... M--)'
1      Add this digit to the argument already accumulating, or start a new
1      argument.  'M--' starts a negative argument.
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1 'universal-argument ()'
1      This is another way to specify an argument.  If this command is
1      followed by one or more digits, optionally with a leading minus
1      sign, those digits define the argument.  If the command is followed
1      by digits, executing 'universal-argument' again ends the numeric
1      argument, but is otherwise ignored.  As a special case, if this
1      command is immediately followed by a character that is neither a
1      digit nor minus sign, the argument count for the next command is
1      multiplied by four.  The argument count is initially one, so
1      executing this function the first time makes the argument count
1      four, a second time makes the argument count sixteen, and so on.
1      By default, this is not bound to a key.
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