Chapter 4: Methods
) IntroducingMethods
) Declaring Methods
) Calling Methods
) Passing Parameters
) Pass by Value
) Overloading Methods
) Method Abstraction
) The Math Class
) Recursion (Optional)
Introducing Methods
Method Structure
A method is a modifier methodName
collection of returnValueType parameters
statements that are method
heading publ i c st at i c i nt max(i nt num1, i nt num2)
{
grouped together method
i nt resul t = 0;
to perform an body
i f (num1 > num2)
resul t = num1;
operation. el se
resul t = num2;
ret urn resul t ;
}
return value
Declaring Methods
public static int max(int num1,
int num2)
{
if (num1 > num2)
return num1;
else
return num2;
}
Calling Methods
A method can be called from another
method. It is named as called method. The
method call other method is named as calling
method.
Example 4.1 Testing the max method
This program demonstrates calling a method
max to return the largest of the int values
Values of i, j
main() max()
k
public class TestMax
{
// Main method
public static void main(String[] args)
{
int i = 5;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j);
System.out.println("The maximum between " + i +
" and " + j + " is " + k);
}
// A method for finding a max between two numbers
static int max(int num1, int num2)
{
if (num1 > num2)
return num1;
else
return num2;
}
}
Passing Parameters
In calling method:
nPrintln("List my name is seven times.", 7);
In called method definition
void nPrintln(String message, int n)
{
for (int i=0; i<n; i++)
System.out.println(message);
}
Pass by Value
Example 4.2 Testing Pass by value
This program demonstrates passing values
to the methods.
// TestPassByValue.java: Demonstrate passing values to methods
public class TestPassByValue
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Declare and initialize variables
int num1 = 1;
int num2 = 2;
System.out.println("Before invoking the swap method, num1 is " +
num1 + " and num2 is " + num2);
// Invoke the swap method to attempt to swap two variables
swap(num1, num2);
System.out.println("After invoking the swap method, num1 is " +
num1 + " and num2 is " + num2);
}
// TestPassByValue.java: Demonstrate passing values to methods
// The method for swapping two variables
static void swap(int n1, int n2)
{
System.out.println(" Inside the swap method");
System.out.println(" Before swapping n1 is " + n1
+ " n2 is " + n2);
// Swapping n1 with n2
int temp = n1;
n1 = n2;
n2 = temp;
System.out.println(" After swapping n1 is " + n1
+ " n2 is " + n2);
}
}
Overloading Methods
Multiple method can share with same
name
Example 4.3 Overloading three max
Methods
// TestMethodOverloading.java: Demonstrate method overloading
public class TestMethodOverloading
{
// Main method
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Invoke the max method with int parameters
System.out.println("The maximum between 3 and 4 is "
+ max(3, 4));
// Invoke the max method with the double parameters
System.out.println("The maximum between 3.0 and 5.4 is "
+ max(3.0, 5.4));
// Invoke the max method with three double parameters
System.out.println("The maximum between 3.0, 5.4, and 10.14 is "
+ max(3.0, 5.4, 10.14));
}
// Find the max between two int values
static int max(int num1, int num2)
{
if (num1 > num2)
return num1;
else
return num2;
}
// Find the max between two double values
static double max(double num1, double num2)
{
if (num1 > num2)
return num1;
else
return num2;
}
// Find the max among three double values
static double max(double num1, double num2, double num3)
{
return max(max(num1, num2), num3);
}
}
Method Abstraction
You can think of the method body as a black box
that contains the detailed implementation for the
method. System.out.println(), or
MyInput.readDouble()
Optional Input Optional return
value
Method Signature
Method body
Black Box
The Math Class
) Class constants:
PI
E
) Class methods:
Trigonometric Methods
Exponent Methods
Miscellaneous
Trigonometric Methods
) sin(double a)
) cos(double a)
) tan(double a)
) acos(double a)
) asin(double a)
) atan(double a)
Exponent Methods
) exp(double a)
Returns e raised to the power of a.
) log(double a)
Returns the natural logarithm of a.
) pow(double a, double b)
Returns a raised to the power of b.
) sqrt(double a)
Returns the square root of a.
Miscellaneous Methods
) max(a, b)and min(a, b)
Returns the maximum or minimum of two
parameters.
) abs(a)
Returns the absolute value of the parameter.
) random()
Returns a random double value
in the range [0.0, 1.0).
Using Math Methods
Example 4.4 Computing Mean and Standard
Deviation
Generate 10 random numbers and compute
the mean and standard deviation
n n
x i i mean
x 2
mean = i =1
deviation = i =1
n n 1
// ComputeMeanDeviation.java: Demonstrate using the math methods
public class ComputeMeanDeviation
{
// Main method
public static void main(String[] args)
{
int number = 0; // Store a random number
double sum = 0; // Store the sum of the numbers
double squareSum = 0; // Store the sum of the squares
// Create 10 numbers, find its sum, and its square sum
for (int i=1; i<=10; i++)
{
// Generate a new random number
number = (int)Math.round(Math.random()*1000);
System.out.println(number);
// Add the number to sum
sum += number;
// Add the square of the number to squareSum
squareSum += Math.pow(number, 2); // Same as number*number;
}
// Find mean
double mean = sum/10;
// Find standard deviation
double deviation = Math.sqrt((squareSum - mean)/(10 - 1));
// Display result
System.out.println("The mean is " + mean);
System.out.println("The standard deviation is " + deviation);
}
}
Case Studies
Example 4.5 Displaying Calendars
The program reads in the month and year
and displays the calendar for a given month
of the year.
Design Diagram
printCalendar
(main)
readInput printMonth
getStartDay printMonthTitle printMonthBody
getStartDay getNumOfDaysInMonth printMonthName
isLeapYear
// PrintCalendar.java: Print a calendar for a given month in a year
public class PrintCalendar
{
// Main method
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// The user enters year and month
System.out.print("Enter full year: ");
int year = MyInput.readInt();
System.out.print("Enter month in number between 1 and 12: ");
int month = MyInput.readInt();
// Print calendar for the month of the year
printMonth(year, month);
}
// Print the calendar for a month in a year
static void printMonth(int year, int month)
{
// Get start day of the week for the first date in the month
int startDay = getStartDay(year, month);
// Get number of days in the month
int numOfDaysInMonth = getNumOfDaysInMonth(year, month);
// Print headings
printMonthTitle(year, month);
// Print body
printMonthBody(startDay, numOfDaysInMonth);
}
// Get the start day of the first day in a month
static int getStartDay(int year, int month)
{
// Get total number of days since 1/1/1800
int startDay1800 = 3;
long totalNumOfDays = getTotalNumOfDays(year, month);
// Return the start day
return (int)((totalNumOfDays + startDay1800) % 7);
}
// Get the total number of days since Jan 1, 1800
static long getTotalNumOfDays(int year, int month)
{
long total = 0;
// Get the total days from 1800 to year -1
for (int i = 1800; i < year; i++)
if (isLeapYear(i))
total = total + 366;
else
total = total + 365;
// Add days from Jan to the month prior to the calendar month
for (int i = 1; i < month; i++)
total = total + getNumOfDaysInMonth(year, i);
return total;
}
// Get the number of days in a month
static int getNumOfDaysInMonth(int year, int month)
{
if (month == 1 || month==3 || month == 5 || month == 7 ||
month == 8 || month == 10 || month == 12)
return 31;
if (month == 4 || month == 6 || month == 9 || month == 11)
return 30;
if (month == 2)
if (isLeapYear(year))
return 29;
else
return 28;
return 0; // If month is incorrect.
}
// Determine if it is a leap year
static boolean isLeapYear(int year)
{
if ((year % 400 == 0) || ((year % 4 == 0) && (year % 100 != 0)))
return true;
return false;
}
// Print month body
static void printMonthBody(int startDay, int numOfDaysInMonth)
{
// Pad space before the first day of the month
int i = 0;
for (i = 0; i < startDay; i++)
System.out.print(" ");
for (i = 1; i <= numOfDaysInMonth; i++)
{
if (i < 10)
System.out.print(" " + i);
else
System.out.print(" " + i);
if ((i + startDay) % 7 == 0)
System.out.println();
}
System.out.println();
}
// Print the month title, i.e. May, 1999
static void printMonthTitle(int year, int month)
{
System.out.println(" "+getMonthName(month)+", "+year);
System.out.println("-----------------------------");
System.out.println(" Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat");
}
// Get the English name for the month
static String getMonthName(int month)
{
String monthName = null;
switch (month)
{
case 1: monthName = "January"; break;
case 2: monthName = "February"; break;
case 3: monthName = "March"; break;
case 4: monthName = "April"; break;
case 5: monthName = "May"; break;
case 6: monthName = "June"; break;
case 7: monthName = "July"; break;
case 8: monthName = "August"; break;
case 9: monthName = "September"; break;
case 10: monthName = "October"; break;
case 11: monthName = "November"; break;
case 12: monthName = "December";
}
return monthName;
}
}
Recursion (Optional)
Example 4.6 Computing Factorial
0!=1
1!=1
2!=2x1!=1
3!=3x2x1=6
4!=4x3!=4x3x2x1=24
N!=Nx(N-1)!=Nx(N-1)x(N-2)!=Nx(N-1)x(N-2)2x1
factorial(0) = 1;
factorial(n) = n*factorial(n-1);
// ComputeFactorial.java: Compute factorial of an integer
public class ComputeFactorial
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Prompt the user to enter an integer
System.out.println("Please enter a nonnegative integer");
int n = MyInput.readInt();
System.out.println("Factorial of " + n + " is " + factorial(n));
}
// Recursive method for computing factorial of n
static long factorial(int n)
{
if (n == 0) // Stopping condition
return 1;
else
return n*factorial(n-1); // Call factorial recursively
}
}
Fibonnaci Numbers
Example 4.7 Computing Finonacci Numbers
Find Fibonacci numbers using recursion.
fib(0) = 1;
fib(1) =1;
fib(2)=fib(1)+fib(0);
fib(3)=fib(2)+fib(1);
fib(n) = fib(n-2) + fib(n-1); n>=2
// ComputeFibonacci.java: Find a Fibonacci number for a given index
public class ComputeFibonacci
{
// Main method
public static void main(String args[])
{
// Read the index
System.out.println("Enter an index for the Fibonacci number");
int n = MyInput.readInt();
// Find and display the Fibonacci number
System.out.println("Fibonacci number at index " + n +
" is "+fib(n));
}
// The method for finding the Fibonacci number
public static long fib(long n)
{
if ((n==0)||(n==1)) // Stopping condition
return 1;
else // Reduction and recursive calls
return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2);
}
}
Towers of Hanoi
Example 4.8 Solving the Towers of Hanoi
Problem
Solve the towers of Hanoi problem.
// TowersOfHanoi.java: Find solutions for
// the Towers of Hanoi problem
public class TowersOfHanoi
{
// Main method
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Read number of disks, n
System.out.println("Enter number of disks");
int n = MyInput.readInt();
// Find the solution recursively
System.out.println("The moves are:");
moveDisks(n, 'A', 'B', 'C');
}
// The method for finding the solution to move n disks
// from fromTower to toTower with auxTower
public static void moveDisks(int n, char fromTower,
char toTower, char auxTower)
{
if (n==1) // Stopping condition
System.out.println("Move disk " + n + " from " +
fromTower+" to " + toTower);
else
{
moveDisks(n-1, fromTower, auxTower, toTower);
System.out.println("Move disk " + n + " from " +
fromTower + " to " + toTower);
moveDisks(n-1, auxTower, toTower, fromTower);
}
}
}
