Thread: While loop messed up

First off thanks to anyone willing to give their time to help a newbie.

So im very new to java/programming and im having trouble with a program. I believe the while loop is messed up as im new to using them. The program is used to calculate inflation in price of an object. The user enters the price, amount of years, and percent inflation. When i try to run this, it cannot print my "finalamount" variable, and i cant figure out what i messed up. Any help/suggestions would be great.

import java.util.Scanner;
 
public class inflationcalculator {
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
 
 
 /*Gather user input*/
 
 
    System.out.print("Input the current cost of the item, just the number:");
    Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
    int amount = scan.nextInt();
 
    System.out.print("Input the rate of inflation, as a percentage without the percent sign:");
 
    int inflat = scan.nextInt();
 
    System.out.print("Input the number of years, must be a whole number:");
 
    int numyear = scan.nextInt();
 
 
 /*Calculate the inflation according to the users input*/
 
int counter = 0;
double percent = (inflat/100);
double amountedit = amount;
	while(counter < numyear){
		double finalamount = (amountedit + (amountedit*percent));
		counter++;
 
	}
 
 
 
 /*Print/results screen*/
 
System.out.print("At ");
System.out.print(inflat);
System.out.print(" percent inflation per year, the cost in ");
System.out.print(numyear);
System.out.print(" year(s) will be $");
System.out.print(finalamount);
System.out.print(".");
 
 
    }
}

Im pretty certain the mistake lies within the loop, but im not sure, thats why i didnt post in the loop category.

it cannot print my "finalamount" variable

What does the program print out when it is executed?

If you get errors, please copy and paste here the full text of the error message.

i get this error "error: cannot find symbol "line 51", of which is where i tell the program to print finalamount.

this error: cannot find symbol
System.out.print(finalamount);
^
symbol: variable finalamount
location: class inflationcalculator
1 error

Process completed.

The definition for the finalamount variable is inside inside of a pair of {}s and is not known outside of those {}s.
It is out of scope for where you are trying to use it. Read up on variable scope and variable definition.

You need to move the definition of the variable out of the inner {}s so it is within the same pair of {}s as where you are trying to use its value.

It compiles if i move the curly brace down to include the ending print statements but it doesnt do at all what i need it to. It just prints the Final statement over and over according to how many years the user enters. Also it doesnt calculate the finalamount correctly. I must have the formula wrong.

 import java.util.Scanner;
 
public class inflationcalculator {
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
 
 
 /*Gather user input*/
 
 
    System.out.print("Input the current cost of the item, just the number:");
    Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
    int amount = scan.nextInt();
 
    System.out.print("Input the rate of inflation, as a percentage without the percent sign:");
 
    int inflat = scan.nextInt();
 
    System.out.print("Input the number of years, must be a whole number:");
 
    int numyear = scan.nextInt();
 
 
 /*Calculate the inflation according to the users input*/
 
int counter = 0;
double percent = (inflat/100);
double amountedit = amount;
	while(counter < numyear){
		double finalamount = (amountedit + (amountedit * percent));
		counter++;
 
 
 
 
 
 /*Print/results screen*/
 
System.out.print("At ");
System.out.print(inflat);
System.out.print(" percent inflation per year, the cost in ");
System.out.print(numyear);
System.out.print(" year(s) will be $");
System.out.print(finalamount);
System.out.print(".");
 
	}
    }
}

I realize moving it "}"was a dumb idea, that forces the print screen to happen again and again, dumb on my part

i changed the formula and got it, thanks for helping

Having the correct formula can improve the program's output.