Thread: Need some JAVA basic programming help

My teacher doesn't teach in my class jsut tells us to read the chapters and do homework. So I have no real understanding for java at all. I need someone to help me start a basic program and possibly guide me through. I am trying to teach myself which is difficult.


This is the question
Create the program below in as a Java file in TextPad.Write a program that asks 3 people (include your first name and the first names of 2 other people) to enter the name of the stock purchased (for example, IBM, Google, Microsoft, Coca Cola), the number of shares of stock purchased, and the price per share of stock purchased. Each person must pay his or her stock broker a 2 percent (.02) commission for his or her stock transaction. Request the input data from each person by using the appropriate JOptionPane dialog box. Create a formula to calculate stock value (hint: stock price per share * number of stock shares purchased), commission (hint: stock value * .02), and total amount paid for the stock (hint: stock value plus commission). Using the appropriate JOptionPane dialog box, display each person’s name, name of stock he or she purchased, the stock value, the amount of the stock commission, and the total amount paid for the stock.

Here is the question I am trying to answer....

Write a program that asks 3 people (include your first name and the first names of 2 other people) to enter the name of the stock purchased (for example, IBM, Google, Microsoft, Coca Cola), the number of shares of stock purchased, and the price per share of stock purchased. Each person must pay his or her stock broker a 2 percent (.02) commission for his or her stock transaction. Request the input data from each person by using the appropriate JOptionPane dialog box. Create a formula to calculate stock value (hint: stock price per share * number of stock shares purchased), commission (hint: stock value * .02), and total amount paid for the stock (hint: stock value plus commission). Using the appropriate JOptionPane dialog box, display each person’s name, name of stock he or she purchased, the stock value, the amount of the stock commission, and the total amount paid for the stock.

HTML Code:

public class Stock
{
	 public static void main(String[] args)
    {
		 //Declare variables
        int numberofShares = 0,priceperShare = 0,valueofShares=0;
        double commission = 0.00; double totalStockcost = 0.00; double StockCom = 0.00;
       //Ask for First and Last name
       String name = "";


	   		String Firstname = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(
	                           null, "Please enter your first name: ");

	       	String LastName = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(
	                           null, "Please enter your last name: ");



        //Create list string to call later
        String list =
        "1 for Apple \n"+
        "2 for Microsoft \n"+
        "3 for DELL \n";

        //Ask for the number corresponding to the Stock
        String s2 = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "Please pick a number corresponding to the stock that you bought: \n " + list);
        ;
        String s3= JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "Number of Stock Purchased");

}
}

So I have gotten where I can input all the information, but my problem is converting the Apple or Dell stock to an actual numerical value. So that I can multiply that value, by the amount purchased to figure out total spent on stock..

What? I am very new to java only been using it for a week. I have no idea what any of that means.

API has not been taught to be yet therefore I cannot use it. I am only suppose to use chapter 1 and 2 in my text book.

I just want to say apple= 1$ if that makes sense or DELL= 2 etc,,, so that I can use those to multiple

I dont understand them....