just basic division

it's simple! i can't do division!

if i try: float x = 5/2;
the result is: 2.0

how will i get: 2.5

Welcome to JavaRanch.

Both 5 and 2 are integers, therefore the '/' operator assumes you want integer division. Try 5.0/2.0 .

thank's! (yes i'm complete newby)

actualy that didn't work as i derived two numbers from dates and i had to divide them. but with your answer in mind i recognized i have to change the type. so i did: double z = (double) x / (double) y

again, thank's for the (swift) answer

You could try "x = 0.0f + 5 / 2;" See whether that works

no, that's not working. only double does the trick. but there is another problem: 79.39767282683093 is a bit toooo long for me, how can it be truncated to let's say 79.397?

You cannot really round a number. If you want to display it a screen (paper, etc), you have to use NumberFormat class. Run this code to see what it does:Explore API for other functionality/subclasses of this class.

Try "x = 1.0 * 2 / 5;" then.
Try "System.out.printf("My number is %.3f", z);"

Look up the java.util.Formatter class, and find the methods Formatter.format, String.format, PrintStream.format and PrintStream.printf, which all take the same sort of arguments.

problem solved!
thank's everyone for help and i'm quite sure i will need your help again soon. 'till then be well!

[ May 07, 2007: Message edited by: darius vaas ]

Use DecimalFormat. this will limit the number of decimal places your answer it and if you haven't already change float to double. Here is some example code where I did almost what it sounds like what you where trying to do. This code divides two numbers and uses decimal format to control the decimals.

//Casey Buresh
//Fig. 4.9: Average2.java
//Class-average program with sentinel-controlled repetition.
import java.text.DecimalFormat;  //class to format numbers
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
 
public class Divide2 {
  
  public static void main(String args[])
  {  
    int total;                   
    int gradeCounter;            
    String int1, int2;                   
    int int11, int22;
    
    double answer;  //number with decimal pount for average
    
   int1=JOptionPane.showInputDialog(
       "Enter and integer:" );
    
    // convert gradeString to int
    int11=Integer.parseInt(int1);
    
    int2=JOptionPane.showInputDialog(
       "Enter and integer:" );
    
    // convert gradeString to int
    int22=Integer.parseInt(int2);
  
  //termination phase
  DecimalFormat threeDigits = new DecimalFormat ("0.000");
  
 
    //calculate average of the integers entered
    answer=(double) int11/int22;
    
    //display average with two digits of precision
    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog( null,
       "Answer is: " + threeDigits.format(answer),
       "Answer", JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE );
    System.exit(0); //terminate application
   } //end main
} //end class Average2