Thread: Chinese Zodiac array

Hey, so I think I did the array right for this, but I'm trying to figure out how to get a certain String out of the array when the user inputs the year they were born. For example, if I input 1993, then I would want the String[Rooster] to be printed. Please Help

import java.util.Scanner;
import java.util.Arrays;
 
public class Chinese_Zodiac {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
 
		Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
		int year = 0;
		int zodiacYear = 0;
 
		//Zodiacs(in order): Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep
		//Create array
		String[] zodiacs = {"Monkey", "Rooster", "Dog", "Pig", "Rat", "Ox", "Tiger", "Rabbit", "Dragon", "Snake", "Horse", "Sheep"};
 
		//User inputs year born and gets zodiac
		System.out.println("Please enter the year you were born: ");
		year = input.nextInt();
 
		zodiacYear = year % 12;
		System.out.println(zodiacYear + " " + zodiacs);	
	}
}

You need a 'decoder' that equates the year entered to the ranges of years that correspond to the appropriate index of the array. Search for Chinese Zodiac, use the resulting description of which years equate to which sign, and develop an algorithm to pull the right sign (index) from the array given a specific year.

Wouldn't that be the same as doing

System.out.println("Please enter the year you were born: ");
		year = input.nextInt();
 
		zodiacYear = year % 12;

Since when they input the year, when you get the remainder from 12, it should equal the segment of the array that the correct zodiac is in?

Did you look up the Chinese Zodiac? It's not month-based.

Yes, and every 12 years the animal repeats, so inputting a year, like 1993, and dividing by 12 shouldn't be a month. It was what was in the book, and I tested it before and it worked, but I just don't know how to apply it to arrays.

Originally Posted by Elyril

Yes, and every 12 years the animal repeats, so inputting a year, like 1993, and dividing by 12 shouldn't be a month. It was what was in the book, and I tested it before and it worked, but I just don't know how to apply it to arrays.

Ahh. Describing what you're thinking is helpful. That way we don't have to guess.

As Norm has been trying to get you to see, what is the number you get from the year % 12 equation? More specifically, what could you do with that number? You might also need to include 1924 in the equation, something like:

( usersYear - 1924 ) % 12 = ?

Okay.. yeah, I actually put

zodiacYear = (year) % 12;
		System.out.println("You were born in " + year + " and your Chinese Zodiac is "  + zodiacs[zodiacYear]);

and I found the years for the Zodiacs, but it confused me for a bit cause they started either Jan. or Feb. then ended the Jan or Feb of that next year so I had to think about it first, but now I got it. Thanks guys!