Small script which provides fdisk with the proper parameters without leaving the necessary documentation out

fdisk-shortened.sh

sed -e 's/\s*\([\+0-9a-zA-Z]*\).*/\1/' << EOF | fdisk ${1}
  o # clear the in memory partition table
  n # new partition
  p # primary partition
  1 # partition number 1
    # default - start at beginning of disk
    # default, extend partition to end of disk
  t # change a partition's system id
  83 # Linux partition  
  p # print the in-memory partition table
  w # write the partition table
  q # and we're done
EOF