Thread: exercise 140

Hi, I'm having trouble with this exercise, but only a part of it. I don't know how to define "abs." Here are the instructions:

 
The purpose of this exercise is to add to the IntClass class below a method, abs, that takes as its only argument an IntClass object and returns a new IntClass object representing the absolute value of the argument.
 
Define the desired method as a class method.
 
Define the desired method as an instance method.
 
In each case, use the main method to test your code.

There's two boxes of editable code. I'm having trouble with the first one, the one with "abs." I think I'll be able to figure out the second box if I figure out the first box. I'm just having trouble understanding the instructions and am in need of a summary please.

Here is more code:

 
my code goes here
 
}

Here's another box of code that they want me to fill out:

 
public class MainClass
{
  public static void main( String[] args )
  {
 
my code goes here...
 
  }
}

Thx, ghosthead

I don't know how to define "abs."

What about the given instructions do you not understand? You surely know how to write a method signature and an empty method body, so what specifically are you confused about in this case?

Here's my new code. I needed some review on method signatures. Now, I realize this was a bad place to get it because I should find it myself and I'm rudely asking you guys this, but I made the code work:

box 1:

 
public IntClass abs(IntClass a){ 
    if (a.myN >= 0)
        return a;
    else
        return new IntClass(-a.myN);
}

box 2:

 
public class MainClass
{
  public static void main( String[] args )
  {
      IntClass b = new IntClass(-5);
      System.out.println((b.abs(b)).getN());
  }
}

It worked perfectly. My teacher helped me. Lol, sorry for asking you guys this. I'll try to ask a better question next time.

You're not being rude, but you learned a lot more by figuring it out yourself or with your teacher's help. That's what they are for.