Thread: Printing a matrix

Please help.. I have an assignment that states that we have to print out a matrix of random 0s and 1s, the size of n-by-n with n coming from user input. With that being said, I know I have to use Math.random() to get the 0s and 1s. My problem is trying to get the actual matrix because I've looked around and people say to use printf, but I've tried a lot of variations of that and I always end up with tons of errors or just several lines of decimals. I left a couple things out which I'll annotate with '???'.

//User inputs an integer and program displays matrix of random
//0's and 1's
 
import java.util.Scanner;
 
public class Matrix {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
 
		Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
	//User inputs integer
		System.out.print("Please enter an integer: ");
		int n = input.nextInt();
		printMatrix(n);	
	}
 
public static void printMatrix(int n) {
 
	while (n > 0) {
		System.out.println(" " + Math.random() * 2);
			n--;
		while (n > 0) {
			System.out.printf( ???, Math.random());
			n--;
		}
	System.out.println(???);	
		}
 
	}
}

Show the real code that gets lots of errors and/or lines of decimals be sure to post the errors so that we know what you need help with. Ask specific questions.

If the code that gets lots of errors is the code above, then you should complete it, attempt to compile and run it, and then post the errors, ask questions, etc.

It might help to write down with pencil on paper the simple steps to accomplish what you've described:

- get user input, matrixOrder (looks like you have this part)
- print a matrix of matrixOrder rows by matrixOrder columns
- etc. . . .

Start simple: Do the second step printing a square matrix of only asterisks. After you've done that, you'll know you have the looping part figured out. Then you can can the step that prints asterisks to randomly print either 0 or 1.

Hints: the first loop controls the number of rows, the inside loop the columns. The printing is done in the inside loop and does not include a <return> after each character printed.

This is what I have for my method <printMatrix>. I'm not sure how to make it so that the input can be used in the method. Also, not sure if both for loops should have n as the variable.

public static void printMatrix(int n) {
	//first loop = rows, second loop = columns
	for(n = 3; n > 0; n--) {
		for(n = 3; n > 0; n--) {
			System.out.println("*");
		}
		}
	}
}

This is my result, the 3 asterisks are there because I wasn't sure how to transfer user input over for this one, so I put <n = 3;> for the loops

Please enter an integer: 3
*
*
*

The user's input is passed to the method in the method call:

printMatrix( n );

Yes, n is appropriate as limit in both loops, because the matrix is a square, n x n, matrix. However, your for loop construction is odd. The typical construction for this would be:

for ( int i = 0 ; i < n ; i++ ) {}

and the same for the nested loop but using a different control variable. (I would usually use 'j'. Use whatever you'd like.)

See what happens when you DO NOT add a linefeed in the nested loop (as in my hint). Use print() instead of println().

Ah.. I see. I thought that was how it was supposed to be, but I kept doubting myself. and now this is my code

public static void printMatrix(int n) {
	//first loop = rows, second loop = columns
	for(int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
		for(int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
			System.out.print("* ");
		}
		}
	}

and my result being

Please enter an integer: 3
* * * * * * * * *

which has the right number of asterisks, but they don't create a n x n matrix

Ah. Got it! Thanks! and I didn't copy all the }s, so that's why they seemed out of place.

Some of these discoveries are left to the wannabe programmer. If you find you're printing 9 asterisks in a row instead of 3 asterisks in 3 rows, you should ask yourself, "How do I break up the row of 9 asterisks into three rows?" And you or someone who knows that 9 / 3 = 3 might answer, "Add a line feed after printing 3 asterisks." And then you'd play with your code to figure out how to do that.

Now that you've figured that out, print random 0s and 1s instead of asterisks.