Brackets { } .........

[Steve Jensen]

I've been typing in examples from a chapter on Methods, and I thought I understood what was going on.
Until now.
My problem concerns the use of brackets { } when writing code.
Below is what I thought the solution to a factorial problem - this is my solution. Well, when I say 'my' solution, I mean the book code, but with as much of it as possible anticipated by me and written, only looking at the book when stuck.

  
public class TestFactorial
{
  public static void main (String[] args)
  {
  for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++)
    {
    System.out.println("f(" + i + ") = " + f(i));
    }
    static long f(int n)
    {
    long f = 1;
    while (n > 1)
     f *= n--;
     return f;
    }
  }
}

There is a syntax error in it, and for the life of me, I can't figure out where it is.
Below is the book solution, which compiles and runs fine.

  
public class TestFactorial
{ public static void main(String[] args)
  { for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++)
      System.out.println("f(" + i + ") = " + f(i));
  }
  static long f(int n)
  { long f = 1;
    while (n > 1)
      f *= n--;
    return f;
  }
}

I think there error in my solution lies in the use of the { } brackets.
Can anybody see what I've done wrong, and why?
I have spent HOURS breaking my thumbs trying to figure it out, but to no avail.

[Ashish Hareet]

Hi Steve,
Here's a revised version of your code -

  
public class TestFactorial
{
    public static void main (String[] args)
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++)
        {
            System.out.println("f(" + i + ") = " + f(i));
        }
    }
    
    static long f(int n)
    {
        long f = 1;
        while (n > 1)
            f *= n--;
        return f;
    }
}

Notice that I finished off with the main method & then went on to write the next method f i.e you need one "}" before static long f(.. & you gotta remove one "}" from the end.
HTH

[Steve Jensen]

Doh!!

I see now.
I failed to notice that the main method, must be enclosed by { } just like any other method should be.
Cheers for the help!