Chapter 5 Methods

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 Opening Problem
Find the sum of integers from 1 to 10, from 20 to 30, and
from 35 to 45, respectively.

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Problem
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++)
sum += i;
System.out.println("Sum from 1 to 10 is " + sum);

sum = 0;
for (int i = 20; i <= 30; i++)
sum += i;
System.out.println("Sum from 20 to 30 is " + sum);

sum = 0;
for (int i = 35; i <= 45; i++)
sum += i;
System.out.println("Sum from 35 to 45 is " + sum);

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Problem
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++)
sum += i;
System.out.println("Sum from 1 to 10 is " + sum);

sum = 0;
for (int i = 20; i <= 30; i++)
sum += i;
System.out.println("Sum from 20 to 30 is " + sum);

sum = 0;
for (int i = 35; i <= 45; i++)
sum += i;
System.out.println("Sum from 35 to 45 is " + sum);

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Solution
public static int sum(int i1, int i2) {
int sum = 0;
for (int i = i1; i <= i2; i++)
sum += i;
return sum;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

System.out.println("Sum from 1 to 10 is " + sum(1, 10));
System.out.println("Sum from 20 to 30 is " + sum(20, 30));
System.out.println("Sum from 35 to 45 is " + sum(35, 45));
}
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 Objectives
 To define methods with formal parameters (§5.2).
 To invoke methods with actual parameters (i.e., arguments) (§5.2).
 To define methods with a return value (§5.3).
 To define methods without a return value (§5.4).
 To pass arguments by value (§5.5).
 To develop reusable code that is modular, easy to read, easy to debug, and
easy to maintain (§5.6).
 To write a method that converts decimals to hexadecimals (§5.7).
 To use method overloading and understand ambiguous overloading (§5.8).
 To determine the scope of variables (§5.9).
 To solve mathematics problems using the methods in the Math class
(§§5.10–5.11).
 To apply the concept of method abstraction in software development (§5.12).
 To design and implement methods using stepwise refinement (§5.12).

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 Defining Methods
A method is a collection of statements that are
grouped together to perform an operation.
Define a method Invoke a method

return value method formal

modifier type name parameters
int z = max(x, y);
method
public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
header
actual parameters
int result; (arguments)
method
body parameter list
if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
else
method
result = num2; signature

return result; return value

}

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 Method Signature
Method signature is the combination of the method name and the
parameter list.

Define a method Invoke a method

return value method formal

modifier type name parameters
int z = max(x, y);
method
public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
header
actual parameters
int result; (arguments)
method
body parameter list
if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
else
method
result = num2; signature

return result; return value

}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Formal Parameters
The variables defined in the method header are known as
formal parameters.

Define a method Invoke a method

return value method formal

modifier type name parameters
int z = max(x, y);
method
public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
header
actual parameters
int result; (arguments)
method
body parameter list
if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
else
method
result = num2; signature

return result; return value

}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Actual Parameters
When a method is invoked, you pass a value to the parameter. This
value is referred to as actual parameter or argument.

Define a method Invoke a method

return value method formal

modifier type name parameters
int z = max(x, y);
method
public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
header
actual parameters
int result; (arguments)
method
body parameter list
if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
else
method
result = num2; signature

return result; return value

}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Return Value Type
A method may return a value. The returnValueType is the data type
of the value the method returns. If the method does not return a
value, the returnValueType is the keyword void. For example, the
returnValueType in the main method is void.
Define a method Invoke a method

return value method formal

modifier type name parameters
int z = max(x, y);
method
public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
header
actual parameters
int result; (arguments)
method
body parameter list
if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
else
method
result = num2; signature

return result; return value

}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Calling Methods
Testing the max method
This program demonstrates calling a method max
to return the largest of the int values

TestMax Run

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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animation

Calling Methods, cont.

pass the value of i

pass the value of j

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

i is now 5

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

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animation

Trace Method Invocation

j is now 2

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

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animation

Trace Method Invocation

invoke max(i, j)

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

invoke max(i, j)
Pass the value of i to num1
Pass the value of j to num2

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

declare variable result

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

(num1 > num2) is true since num1 is
5 and num2 is 2

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

result is now 5

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

return result, which is 5

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

return max(i, j) and assign the
return value to k

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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animation

Trace Method Invocation

Execute the print statement

public static void main(String[] args) { public static int max(int num1, int num2) {
int i = 5; int result;
int j = 2;
int k = max(i, j); if (num1 > num2)
result = num1;
System.out.println( else
"The maximum between " + i + result = num2;
" and " + j + " is " + k);
} return result;
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
rights reserved.
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 CAUTION
A return statement is required for a value-returning method.

public static int sign(int n) { public static int sign(int n) {

if (n > 0) Should be if (n > 0)
return 1; return 1;
else if (n == 0) else if (n == 0)
return 0; return 0;
else if (n < 0) else
return –1; return –1;
} }
(a) (b)

To fix this problem, delete if (n < 0) in (a), so that the compiler

will see a return statement to be reached regardless of how the if
statement is evaluated.
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Reuse Methods from Other Classes
NOTE: One of the benefits of methods is for reuse.
The max method can be invoked from any class besides
TestMax.
If you create a new class Test, you can invoke the max
method using ClassName.methodName (e.g., TestMax.max).

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 void Method Example
This type of method does not return a value. The method
performs some actions.

TestVoidMethod Run

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 Passing Parameters
public static void nPrintln(String message, int n) {
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
System.out.println(message);
}

Suppose you invoke the method using

nPrintln(“Welcome to Java”, 5);
What is the output?

Suppose you invoke the method using

nPrintln(“Computer Science”, 15);
What is the output?

Can you invoke the method using

nPrintln(15, “Computer Science”);

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Pass by Value

This program demonstrates passing values

to the methods.

Increment Run

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 Pass by Value

Testing Pass by value

This program demonstrates passing values
to the methods.

TestPassByValue Run

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Modularizing Code
Methods can be used to reduce redundant coding
and enable code reuse. Methods can also be used to
modularize code and improve the quality of the
program.
GreatestCommonDivisorMethod

Run

PrimeNumberMethod

Run

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 Overloading Methods
Overloading the max Method

public static double max(double num1, double

num2) {
if (num1 > num2)
return num1;
else
return num2;
}

TestMethodOverloading Run

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 Ambiguous Invocation
 Sometimes there may be two or more
possible matches for an invocation of a
method, but the compiler cannot determine
the most specific match.
 This is referred to as ambiguous invocation.
 Ambiguous invocation is a compilation error.

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 Ambiguous Invocation
public class AmbiguousOverloading {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(max(1, 2));
}

public static double max(int num1, double num2) {

if (num1 > num2)
return num1;
else
return num2;
}

public static double max(double num1, int num2) {

if (num1 > num2)
return num1;
else
return num2;
}
}
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 Scope of Local Variables
A local variable: a variable defined inside a
method.
 Scope: the part of the program where the
variable can be referenced.
 The scope of a local variable starts from its
declaration and continues to the end of
the block that contains the variable.
 A local variable must be declared before it
can be used.
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 Scope of Local Variables, cont.
You can declare a local variable with the
same name multiple times in different non-
nesting blocks in a method, but you cannot
declare a local variable twice in nested
blocks.

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 Scope of Local Variables, cont.
A variable declared in the initial action part of a for loop
header has its scope in the entire loop. But a variable
declared inside a for loop body has its scope limited in the
loop body from its declaration and to the end of the block
that contains the variable.

public static void method1() {

.
.
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
.
The scope of i .
int j;
.
The scope of j .
.
}
}

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Scope of Local Variables, cont.

It is fine to declare i in two It is wrong to declare i in

non-nesting blocks two nesting blocks

public static void method1() { public static void method2() {

int x = 1;
int y = 1; int i = 1;
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
x += i; for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
} sum += i;
}
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
y += i; }
}
}

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 Scope of Local Variables, cont.
// Fine with no errors
public static void correctMethod() {
int x = 1;
int y = 1;
// i is declared
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
x += i;
}
// i is declared again
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
y += i;
}
} Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 Scope of Local Variables, cont.
// With errors
public static void incorrectMethod() {
int x = 1;
int y = 1;
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++) {
int x = 0;
x += i;
}
}

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 Method Abstraction
You can think of the method body as a black box
that contains the detailed implementation for the
method.
Optional arguments Optional return
for Input value

Method Header
Black Box
Method body

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 Benefits of Methods
• Write a method once and reuse it anywhere.
• Information hiding. Hide the implementation
from the user.
• Reduce complexity.

Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Ninth Edition, (c) 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All
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 The Math Class
 Class constants:
– PI
–E
 Class methods:
– Trigonometric Methods
– Exponent Methods
– Rounding Methods
– min, max, abs, and random Methods

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 Trigonometric Methods
 sin(double a) Examples:

 cos(double a) Math.sin(0) returns 0.0

 tan(double a) Math.sin(Math.PI / 6)
returns 0.5
 acos(double a) Math.sin(Math.PI / 2)
 returns 1.0
asin(double a)
Math.cos(0) returns 1.0
 atan(double a) Math.cos(Math.PI / 6)
returns 0.866
Math.cos(Math.PI / 2)
Radians returns 0
toRadians(90)
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 Exponent Methods
 exp(double a) Examples:
Returns e raised to the power of a.
 Math.exp(1) returns 2.71
log(double a)
Math.log(2.71) returns 1.0
Returns the natural logarithm of a.
Math.pow(2, 3) returns 8.0
 log10(double a) Math.pow(3, 2) returns 9.0
Returns the 10-based logarithm of Math.pow(3.5, 2.5) returns
a. 22.91765
Math.sqrt(4) returns 2.0
 pow(double a, double b)
Math.sqrt(10.5) returns 3.24
Returns a raised to the power of b.
 sqrt(double a)
Returns the square root of a.

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 Rounding Methods
 double ceil(double x)
x rounded up to its nearest integer. This integer is returned as a
double value.
 double floor(double x)
x is rounded down to its nearest integer. This integer is returned as a
double value.
 double rint(double x)
x is rounded to its nearest integer. If x is equally close to two integers,
the even one is returned as a double.
 int round(float x)
Return (int)Math.floor(x+0.5).
 long round(double x)
Return (long)Math.floor(x+0.5).

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 Rounding Methods Examples
Math.ceil(2.1) returns 3.0
Math.ceil(2.0) returns 2.0
Math.ceil(-2.0) returns –2.0
Math.ceil(-2.1) returns -2.0
Math.floor(2.1) returns 2.0
Math.floor(2.0) returns 2.0
Math.floor(-2.0) returns –2.0
Math.floor(-2.1) returns -3.0
Math.rint(2.1) returns 2.0
Math.rint(2.0) returns 2.0
Math.rint(-2.0) returns –2.0
Math.rint(-2.1) returns -2.0
Math.rint(2.5) returns 2.0
Math.rint(-2.5) returns -2.0
Math.round(2.6f) returns 3
Math.round(2.0) returns 2
Math.round(-2.0f) returns -2
Math.round(-2.6)
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 min, max, and abs
 max(a, b)and min(a, b) Examples:
Returns the maximum or
minimum of two parameters.
Math.max(2, 3) returns 3
 abs(a) Math.max(2.5, 3) returns
Returns the absolute value of the 3.0
parameter. Math.min(2.5, 3.6)
 random() returns 2.5
Returns a random double value Math.abs(-2) returns 2
in the range [0.0, 1.0). Math.abs(-2.1) returns
2.1

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 The random Method
Generates a random double value greater than or equal to 0.0 and
less than 1.0 (0 <= Math.random() < 1.0).

Examples:

Returns a random integer

(int)(Math.random() * 10)
between 0 and 9.

50 + (int)(Math.random() * 50) Returns a random integer

between 50 and 99.

In general,

a + Math.random() * b Returns a random number between

a and a + b, excluding a + b.

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