K&B "SCJP 5.0" Chapter 7 -Q16 - Error?

[Tommaso Nuccio]

Hi there,

I just took the selftest and while reviweing the answers, I got stuck on the last question.

Q16:
Given a method declared as
-> public static <E extends Number> List<E> process(List<E> nums)
A programmer wants to use this method like this:
//INSERT DECLARATIONS HERE
output = process(input)

Which pairs could be inserted at //INSERT DECLARATIONS HERE ?

A.
B.
ArrayList<Integer> input = null;
List<Integer> output = null;
C.
ArrayList<Integer> input = null;
List<Number> output = null;
D.
E.
List<Number> input = null;
List<Number> output = null;
F.
List<Integer> input = null;
List<Integer> output = null;
G.

The answers should be B,E,F, but not C.

The explanation to C is:
"C is wrong because the return type evaluates to List<Integer>, and that can't be assigned to a variable of type List<Number>."
I absolutely understand this, but then, why is F correct?

Any help appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance.

[Tommaso Nuccio]

Oha!

I think I understand it now.
It's because in C the input is ArrayList<Integer>!!

Darn..

Thanks anyway.