Static Methods

[Theresa Marlin]

I had an original code:

  import java.util.*;
class Exercise1
{
  public static void main ( String[] args)
  {
    Scanner scan = new Scanner ( System.in );
    System.out.println("Enter number of levels: ");
    int levels = scan.nextInt();
    TriangleCalc tri = new TriangleCalc();
    if (levels > 0)
    {
    int result = tri.Triangle( levels );
    System.out.println("Triangle(" + levels +") is " + result );
    }
    else 
      System.out.println("Please enter positive value.");
      
  }
}

class TriangleCalc
{
  int Triangle( int N )
  {
    if ( N == 1 )
      return 1;
    else
      return N + Triangle( N-1 );
  }
}  

I was then supposed to change Triangle to a static method and delete the class TriangleCalc. What is a static method and how do they work? I tried what I could do (below), and got an error. I am unsure of how to include a static method in a main method. Here's my code:

  import java.util.*;
class Exercise2
{
  public static void main ( String[] args)
  {
    Scanner scan = new Scanner ( System.in );
    System.out.println("Enter number of levels: ");
    int levels = scan.nextInt();
    TriangleCalc tri = new TriangleCalc();
    if (levels > 0)
    {
    int result = tri.Triangle( levels );
    System.out.println("Triangle(" + levels +") is " + result );
    }
    else 
      System.out.println("Please enter positive value.");
     public static Triangle (int N)
    {
      {
    if ( N == 1 )
      
      return 1;
    else
      return N + Triangle( N-1 );
  }
      
  }
  }
}
      

Thank you!!

[David Newton]

A static method is a method defined with the "static" keyword.

You say you "got an error", but neglected to provide any information about the error.

[Theresa Marlin]

Sorry about that, I tend to ask for help without providing critical information :P One error says illegal start of expression. Another says need a semi colon. Why would I ever need a semi colon between two brackets?

   import java.util.*;
class Exercise2
{
  public static void main ( String[] args)
  {
    Scanner scan = new Scanner ( System.in );
    System.out.println("Enter number of levels: ");
    int levels = scan.nextInt();
    TriangleCalc tri = new TriangleCalc();
    if (levels > 0)
    {
    int result = tri.Triangle( levels );
    System.out.println("Triangle(" + levels +") is " + result );
    }
    else 
      System.out.println("Please enter positive value.");
     public static Triangle (int N) //Error line 1
    {
      {
    if ( N == 1 )
      
      return 1;
    else
      return N + Triangle( N-1 );
  }
      
  }//error line 2
  }
}
     

Thanks!!!

[David Newton]

You're trying to create a method smack-dab in the middle of another method--that's not legal Java.

[Theresa Marlin]

The assignment said not to delete the class from the first assignment- should I just create another class?

Thanks,
Theresa

[David Newton]

See how main is declared? Main is a static method. How might you declare your own static method?

[Theresa Marlin]

by creating another static main method, and putting the class there?

[David Newton]

Nope. Maybe check out some Java tutorials--all you're doing is creating a new method and removing the Triangle class. You might be overthinking this.

[Theresa Marlin]

Alright, I will, thanks! Do you have any tutorials to recommend for static?

[David Newton]

Not really.

As I said: main is already a static method. In other words, why would creating a new static method look any different than the main method???