What is wrong with this java while loop? - java

New to Java and learning how to use While loops and random generator. This prints a multiplication question. Every time the user answers a question wrong, it should print the same question. Instead, it exits the program. What should I do?
while (true) {
Random multiply = new Random();
int num1 = multiply.nextInt(15);
int num2 = multiply.nextInt(15);
int output = num1 * num2;
System.out.println("What is the answer to " + num1 + " * " + num2);
Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
int answer = input.nextInt();
if (answer == output) {
if (answer != -1)
System.out.println("Very good!");
} else {
System.out.println("That is incorrect, please try again.");
}
}

If you want to repeat the same question when the user gets the answer wrong, you should use another while inside your main loop.
This inner loop continues to ask as long as you give a wrong answer.
I also replaced nextInt with nextLine, which reads in a whole line of text. This consumes the "Enter" key and is a safer approach at reading from the console. Since the result is now a String you need to use Integer.parseInt to convert it to an int. This throws an exception if you enter anything but a whole number so I wrapped it into a try-catch block.
If you want, you can add an additional check for validating user input. So in case the user wants to stop playing they only need to input "exit" and the whole outer loop will exit.
boolean running = true; // This flag tracks if the program should be running.
while (running) {
Random multiply = new Random();
int num1 = multiply.nextInt(15);
int num2 = multiply.nextInt(15);
int output = num1 * num2;
boolean isCorrect = false; // This flag tracks, if the answer is correct
while (!isCorrect) {
System.out.println("What is the answer to " + num1 + " * " + num2);
Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
try {
String userInput = input.nextLine(); // Better use nextLine to consume the "Enter" key.
// If the user wants to stop
if (userInput.equals("exit")) {
running = false; // Don't run program any more
break;
}
int answer = Integer.parseInt(userInput);
if (answer == output) {
if (answer != -1) {
System.out.println("Very good!");
isCorrect = true; // Set the flag to true, to break out of the inner loop
}
} else {
System.out.println("That is incorrect, please try again.");
}
}
catch(NumberFormatException e) {
System.out.println("Please enter only whole numbers");
}
}
}

Avoid while true. Declare a variable to true, pass the variable to the condición loop and set it to false when the answer is incorrect. You can use break too, but is easier to read the code when you use a exit condition in the while. Also read more about loops https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/nutsandbolts/while.html

Related

Trying to stop a Do-While Loop for an application

I'm creating an application for a homework, the problem is that I am trying to create a do-while loop to exit the application (Using the question "Do you want to exit (Y/N)"). To work with the do-while loop, I created a method to store the app and then called the method in the do-while loop, so that when I try to stop the loop, the method loops once more. I want when I type "Y" to the console the whole program stops and doesn't loop one more time.
I created a simple example to explain my problem.
Here's the method:
public static void App(){
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Write a number: ");
int num1 = sc.nextInt();
System.out.print("Write another number: ");
int num2 = sc.nextInt();
System.out.println("\nResult: "+(num1+num2));
}
And here I'm trying to create the loop in the main method:
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner sc2 = new Scanner(System.in);
App();
String answer;
do {
System.out.println("Do you want to exit (Y/N)?");
answer = sc2.next();
App();
} while (answer.equalsIgnoreCase("N")) ;
}
the problem is that I am trying to create a do-while loop to exit the application
You already have that in your program.
so that when I try to stop the loop, the method loops once more...
That doesn't fit the goal of your program.
I want when I type "Y" to the console the whole program stops and doesn't loop one more time
A lot of context that doesn't fit right in.
But anyway, you just have to reorganize your program.
In other words, just move your App() method.
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner sc2 = new Scanner(System.in);
String answer;
do {
App();
System.out.println("Do you want to exit (Y/N)?");
answer = sc2.next();
} while (answer.equalsIgnoreCase("N")) ;
}
Also, I spotted a lot of bad practices, so I kind of fixed them:
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
try(Scanner sc2 = new Scanner(System.in)){
String answer;
do {
App();
System.out.print("Do you want to exit (Y/N)?");
answer = sc2.nextLine();
} while (answer.equalsIgnoreCase("N")) ;
}
}
Lastly, maybe (just maybe) try to solve your problem first before seeking help for your homework.
The reason why your program is running again after you type n is because the App() method is ran after the question is asked within the do part of the loop.
This code below is the simplest fix I could think of.
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner sc2 = new Scanner(System.in);
// I removed the line 'App();' as the App method will always run at least one time. Therefore putting that method within the 'do' part of the loop allows us to ask the user if they wish to exit or not after they have received their answer.
String answer;
do {
App();
System.out.print("Do you want to exit (Y/N)?"); //I changed the 'println' to 'print' here
answer = sc2.next();
} while (answer.equalsIgnoreCase("N")) ;
}
As a side note, methods in java should be lower-case when following typical Java naming conventions. While this will not affect how your code runs, I would suggest renaming the method from App() to app().
Everything looks good in your code, Just change the execution logic as shown in code blocks.
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner sc2 = new Scanner(System.in);
App(); //remove this line from here
String answer;
do {
App(); //call App function here so that it got executed at least one time
System.out.println("Do you want to exit (Y/N)?");
answer = sc2.next();
App(); //remove this as well
} while (answer.equalsIgnoreCase("N")) ;
}
Here is yet another approach except it uses a while loops instead of do/while loops. Two different approaches are provided and both provide User entry validation:
Approach #1:
public static void appMethod() {
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
int num1 = Integer.MIN_VALUE; // Initialize with some obscure value.
int num2 = Integer.MIN_VALUE; // Initialize with some obscure value.
while (num1 == Integer.MIN_VALUE) {
System.out.print("Write a number: ");
try {
num1 = sc.nextInt();
} catch ( java.util.InputMismatchException ex) {
System.out.println("Invalid Entry! Try again..."
+ System.lineSeparator());
sc.nextLine(); // consume the ENTER key hit otherwise this error will keep cycling.
num1 = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
}
}
while (num2 == Integer.MIN_VALUE) {
System.out.print("Now, write yet another number: ");
try {
num2 = sc.nextInt();
} catch ( java.util.InputMismatchException ex) {
System.out.println("Invalid Entry! Try again..."
+ System.lineSeparator());
sc.nextLine(); // consume the ENTER key hit otherwise this error will keep cycling.
num2 = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
}
}
System.out.println("\nResult: " + num1 +" + " + num2 + " = " + (num1 + num2));
}
Approach #2:
This next approach makes use of the Scanner#nextLine() method. The thing to remember about nextLine() is that, if you use it in your console application then basically recommend you use it for everything (all prompts). A 'quit' mechanism is also available in this version. Read the comments in code:
public static void appMethod() {
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
// Retrieve first number...
String num1 = "";
while (num1.isEmpty()) {
System.out.print("Write a number (q to quit): ");
// Making use of the Scanner#nextLine() method
num1 = sc.nextLine();
// Has 'q' been supplied to Quit?
if (num1.equalsIgnoreCase("q")) {
return;
}
/* Validate the fact that a signed or unsigned Integer or
Floating Point value has been entered. If not show Msg. */
if (!num1.matches("-?\\d+(\\.\\d+)?")) {
System.out.println("Invalid Entry! (" + num1 + ") Try again..."
+ System.lineSeparator());
num1 = ""; // empty num1 so as to re-loop.
}
}
// Retrieve second number...
String num2 = "";
while (num2.isEmpty()) {
System.out.print("Now, write yet another number (q to quit): ");
num2 = sc.nextLine();
if (num2.equalsIgnoreCase("q")) {
return;
}
if (!num2.matches("-?\\d+(\\.\\d+)?")) {
System.out.println("Invalid Entry! (" + num2 + ") Try again..."
+ System.lineSeparator());
num2 = "";
}
}
// Convert the numerical strings to double data type values.
double number1 = Double.parseDouble(num1);
double number2 = Double.parseDouble(num2);
// Display the result.
System.out.println("\nResult: " + num1 +" + " + num2 + " = " + (number1 + number2));
}

Why do I have to enter two inputs for my code to start running?

I'm using a while statement in my code, where, inside the while statement, the user inputs a number. To stop the program from looping, the user must input the word "stop". However, once I enter in a number, the output skips to another line without printing the statement I want it to print, and I have to enter my desired input again for the program to start looping.
The only time this problem DOES NOT occur is when the user inputs "stop" FIRST, then the code works fine.
This is to find the max, min, and mean of any amount of user-inputted numbers. I've tried changing the order of the else/if statements and the parameters for the said else/if statements, but nothing seems to work.
boolean stopped = false;
int numberAmount = 0;
int invalidAmount = 0;
double max = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
double min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
double mean = 0;
while(stopped == false)
{
System.out.print("Enter a number (type "+"\""+"stop"+"\""+" to stop): ");
String originalInput = userInput.nextLine();
if(originalInput.equals("stop"))
{
stopped = true;
invalidAmount ++;
System.out.println(numberAmount+" numbers were entered with "+invalidAmount+" invalid inputs.");
}
else if(userInput.hasNextDouble())
{
double currentValue = Double.parseDouble(originalInput);
max = Math.max(max, currentValue);
min = Math.min(min, currentValue);
mean = currentValue;
numberAmount ++;
}
else if(originalInput.equals("stop") == false)
{
System.out.println("Not a number...");
invalidAmount ++;
}
}
System.out.println("The maximum is "+max+".");
System.out.println("The minimum is "+min+".");
System.out.println("The mean is "+(mean / numberAmount)+".");
userInput.close();
}
}
For example, I expect the output after inputting 7 to be
"Enter a number (type "stop" to stop):" on the next line(since the program loops to keep prompting for number input), where the user could then keep inputting numbers as they like.
Instead, the actual output is a blank line under the original prompt for user input, where the user must input their desired input AGAIN for the program to start looping.
You didn't specify in your code example what userInput is, but from the usage it looks to be an instance of Scanner. If you have a Scanner declared and then call hasNextDouble(), you will get a boolean result which fits with your usage – you have that as the condition in your if statement.
Scanner userInput = new Scanner(System.in);
boolean b = userInput.hasNextDouble();
What's missing from the picture is how hasNextDouble() works. Looking at the Javadoc for Scanner:
Returns true if the next token in this scanner's input can be interpreted as a double value using the nextDouble() method. The scanner does not advance past any input.
In order to answer true/false for whether the next input is a double or not, the scanner has to wait for input from the user before it can proceed.
All of this to say: your code looks like it's behaving normally. If you don't want to wait for user input, you need to write your code to reflect that.
I think you should invert the logic of the code, assuming you are using the Scanner, try something like this:
import java.util.Scanner;
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
boolean stopped = false;
int numberAmount = 0;
int invalidAmount = 0;
double max = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
double min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
double mean = 0;
while (stopped == false) {
Scanner userInput = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter a number (type " + "\"" + "stop" + "\"" + " to stop): ");
if (userInput.hasNextDouble()) {
double currentValue = userInput.nextDouble();
max = Math.max(max, currentValue);
min = Math.min(min, currentValue);
mean = currentValue;
numberAmount++;
} else {
String originalInput = userInput.nextLine();
if (originalInput.equals("stop")) {
stopped = true;
invalidAmount++;
System.out.println(numberAmount + " numbers were entered with " + invalidAmount + " invalid inputs.");
} else {
System.out.println("Not a number...");
invalidAmount++;
}
}
}
System.out.println("The maximum is " + max + ".");
System.out.println("The minimum is " + min + ".");
System.out.println("The mean is " + (mean / numberAmount) + ".");
// userInput.close();
}
}
Basically you are checking first the input type, and only after you are collecting the value from the console. Doing it the way you have right now, you will always ask for the second input.
I don't really know the API, but I expect hasNextDouble reads another line. Check if originalInput is a double, don't read another line.

Using java scanner to check two conditions while taking user input

I need to user to enter an int between 1 and 301.
I have this simple loop here to check for user input.
I just want a single number from the user, and if the user enters anything other than an int between 1 and 301, I want to display the print line and prompt the users to try again until they enter a valid input.
while (!sc.hasNextInt()) {
System.out.print("Invalid Input. Please enter a valid number between 1 and 301: ");
sc.next();
}
int numToCheck = sc.nextInt();
// do stuff with numToCheck
This checks that the input is an int, but I can't seem to find a way to give the int input a bound. I tried to assign the user input to a variable and then check the conditions input < 1 or input > 301, but I get InputMismatchException if user enters a letter. How should I store the user input? (I want to store it as an int to check the conditions, but can't do that since I don't know what the user will enter).
Perhaps there is a better design to accomplish all this. Those are welcomed too.
Thanks in advance.
You're not saving the value of the of the input. So your program is waiting on the user to enter a number each time it see "sc.nextInt()" Assign the input to a variable, and then check the condition.
EDIT: okay, I'll go the extra mile for you. See if this works.
***Accounted for the case where the user might enter a character instead of a number.
import java.util.*;
public class HelloWorld{
public static void main(String []args){
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
int input;
while (true){
if (sc.hasNextInt()){
input = sc.nextInt(); // Assign the next integer to a variable
if (input <= 301 && input >= 1){ // Check if integer meets condition
break; // Condition met, break out of loop
}
}else{
sc.next();
}
System.out.println("Invalid Input. Please enter a valid number between 1 and 301: ");
}
}
}
I ran this code, to see if it would show a better performance than yours.
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
boolean valid = true;
do {
if (!valid) {
System.out.print("Invalid Input. ");
}
System.out.print("Please enter a valid number between 1 and 301: ");
String input = sc.next();
try {
int value = Integer.parseInt(input);
valid = (value >= 1 && value <= 301);
} catch (NumberFormatException nfex) {
valid = false;
}
} while (!valid);
When the conversion to integer fails, the JVM hangs a little. I believe your problem has more to do with the try / catch mecanism that Scanner performs under the hood, than with design.
Assuming you want only 1 input from the user, try following simple code, which takes input from the user until user enters a valid input.
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
int flag = 0,x=0;
while(flag == 0){
x = in.nextInt();
if(x<1 || x>301){
flag = 0;
System.out.println("Invalid Input.");
}
else{
flag = 1;
}
}
And if you want user to input more than 1 inputs (i.e 3 here), than set a counter that increases with every valid input of the user, as following:
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
int flag = 0,x=0,count = 1;
while(flag == 0){
x = in.nextInt();
if(x<1 || x>301){
flag = 0;
System.out.println("Invalid Input.");
}
else{
//executes when input is valid
if(count == 3){
flag = 1;
}
count++;
}
}
Edit:
If you also want to check whether the input is Integer or not, than you have to add one extra condition in above code. And as you said you want only one input from user rather than 3, you have to change exit condition. Change code as following:
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
int flag = 0,count = 1,x=0,flag1 = 0;
String y;
while(flag == 0){
y = in.next();
flag1 = 0;
try{
x = Integer.parseInt(y);
}
catch(NumberFormatException e){
flag1 = 1;
System.out.println("Invalid Input.");
}
if((x<1 || x>301)&&flag1 == 0){
flag = 0;
System.out.println("Invalid Input.");
}
else if(flag1 == 0){
//executes when input is valid
if(count == 1){ // put count == 3 if you want 3 inputs from user.
flag = 1;
}
count++;
}
}
Here we are taking the input as a String and than converting the String into the Integer by using Integer.parseInt(). If the String is not Integer, than it will throw the exception and we will continue the loop till the valid input is entered by the user.
Use DO WHILE for result
do{
System.out.print("value of x : " + x );
x++;
System.out.print("\n");
}while( x < 20 );
OK ?

How to make a program run a second time?

import java.util.Scanner;
public class Dice {
public static void main(String[] args) {
//I used 'print' instead of 'println' just to make it look a little cleaner in the console.
System.out.print("Input your first number: ");
Scanner sc1 = new Scanner(System.in);
double num1 = sc1.nextInt();
//I use doubles for my variables just in case the user wants to divide.
System.out.print("Input your second number: ");
Scanner sc2 = new Scanner(System.in);
double num2 = sc2.nextInt();
/* I used words rather than the actual symbols for my operators just to get practice using scanners for strings.
* Until now I'd solely been using them for int variables. And also due to the small detail that before programming,
* I had no idea what a modulo was and I felt that would be confusing to a random person.
*/
System.out.println("What would you like to do with these numbers?(Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, or Check Divisibility): ");
System.out.println("Simply type 'check' to check the divisibility of your two numbers.");
Scanner sc3 = new Scanner(System.in);
String str1 = sc3.nextLine().toUpperCase();
/* toUpperCase to prevent the user from creating an error by typing their in put in a 'unique' way.
*It took me several failures to finally look up toUpperCase.
*/
double num3;
switch(str1) {
case "ADD":
num3 = num1 + num2;
System.out.println("The sum is: " + num3);
break;
case "SUBTRACT":
num3 = num1 + num2;
System.out.println("The difference is: " + num3);
break;
case "MULTIPLY":
num3 = num1 * num2;
System.out.println("The product is: " + num3);
break;
case "DIVIDE":
num3 = num1 / num2;
System.out.println("The quotient is: " + num3);
break;
case "CHECK":
num3 = num1 % num2;
System.out.println("The remainder is: " + num3);
break;
default:
System.out.println("Invalid input. Please ensure that two numbers were entered and that you entered a valid math operation.");
break;
}//switch statement
}//main method
}//class
How would I get my code to run again if I wanted to maybe add another number to my answer? I'm just trying to get some practice in with my Java (I'm extremely green) and I apologize in advance if my question is too broad.
Consider the following small program
boolean quit = false;
while(!quit) {
System.out.print("Enter Something:");
Scanner sc1 = new Scanner(System.in);
String input = sc1.nextLine();
if(input.compareToIgnoreCase("quit") == 0) {
quit = true;
continue;
}
System.out.println("You entered " + input);
}
In this sample we keep asking them to enter something and print it out unless that input is "quit" in that case we use the continue statement to skip the rest of the loop and go back to the top of the while loop and re-evaluate the condition for another iteration. If you entered 'quit' this will evaluate to false and stop the loop and exit the program.
Heres a sample input/output from the program. Notice there is no "You entered quit", this is because the continue statement brought us back to the top of the while loop.
Enter Something:hello
You entered hello
Enter Something:quit
Now how can you adapt this to your program? Heres a small sample of how you can do one of your inputs
double num1 = 0;
String input1 = sc1.nextLine();
if(input1.compareToIgnoreCase("quit") == 0) {
// quit was entered, leave the loop
quit = true;
continue;
}
try {
num1 = Double.parseDouble(input1);
} catch(NumberFormatException e) {
// user entered something that isnt a number, quit the program for now
// you can change this to whatever behavior you like in the future
quit = true;
continue;
}
This will likely leave you with some validation questions like "I want to have my user try again if they input an invalid number" Those are all possible using this method and it leads you in the right direction.
Remember, main() is a callable method. Instead of using a while or for loop, you could just call it again at the end of the main method method.
// Put this at the end of your main method
System.out.print("Do you want to execute again? (yes/no)");
boolean repeat = sc1.nextLine().toUpperCase().equals("YES");
if (repeat) {
main(null); // You're not using any arguments in main()
}
On a separate note, you don't need all three of sc1, sc2, and sc3. They're basically the same. You could probably use sc1 everywhere and remove sc2 and sc3 completely.
// something like this then ask if to do another run if not set flag false
boolean flag = true;
while(flag)
{
System.out.print("Input your first number: ");
Scanner sc1 = new Scanner(System.in);
double num1 = sc1.nextInt();
You should put all your logic around a while loop which will grant to you to repeat your task until a condition is reached.
Maybe you can ask to the user to insert the string "EXIT" when he wants to exit from your program.
In your case I'll do something like this:
boolean exitFlag = false;
do {
// <put your logic here>
String answer = sc3.nextLine().toUpperCase();
if (answer.equals("EXIT")) {
exitFlag = true;
}
} while(!exitFlag);

Looping around a try catch

In the below code I am attempting to allow the program to catch an exception for an invalid input from user but still allow the program to loop back to the start of the method once exception has been caught. However in my example once there is an exception the program terminates. How can I rectify this? Thank a lot in advance!
public static void add() {
// Setting up random
Random random = new Random();
// Declaring Integers
int num1;
int num2;
int result;
int input;
input = 0;
// Declaring boolean for userAnswer (Defaulted to false)
boolean correctAnswer = false;
do {
// Create two random numbers between 1 and 100
num1 = random.nextInt(100);
num1++;
num2 = random.nextInt(100);
num2++;
// Displaying numbers for user and getting user input for answer
System.out.println("Adding numbers...");
System.out.printf("What is: %d + %d? Please enter answer below", num1, num2);
result = num1 + num2;
do {
try {
input = scanner.nextInt();
} catch (Exception ex) {
// Print error message
System.out.println("Sorry, invalid number entered for addition");
// flush scanner
scanner.next();
correctAnswer=false;
}
} while (correctAnswer);
// Line break for code clarity
System.out.println();
// if else statement to determine if answer is correct
if (result == input) {
System.out.println("Well done, you guessed corectly!");
correctAnswer = true;
} else {
System.out.println("Sorry incorrect, please guess again");
}
} while (!correctAnswer);
}// End of add
I'm not quite sure about the exceptions part, but have you maybe though about just using if statements?
Scanner has a method 'hasNextInt' which you can use to check that the the input is na int. For example:
Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
int i=0;
boolean correctAnswer = false;
while(correctAnswer == false){
if(scan.hasNextInt()){
i = scan.nextInt(); correctAnswer = true;
}else{ System.out.println("Invalid entry");
correctAnswer = false;
scan.next();
}
System.out.println(i);
}
Sorry that it doesn't actually directly answer your question, but I though you might want to know about this possible way too. :)
Instead of throw an exception maybe you can use the method hasNextInt() which returns true if the token is a number.
But if you want absolutely use the try catch block, you have to remove the scanner.next() instrsctions because when nothings available on the buffer, it's throws an NoSuchElementException
I think solution i am giving can be improved but this is simple modification to fix your code: (just add new condition variable to check if further input/ans attempts required)
Hope it helps - MAK
public class StackTest {
private static Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException{
// Setting up random
Random random = new Random();
// Declaring Integers
int num1;
int num2;
int result;
int input;
input = 0;
// Declaring boolean for userAnswer (Defaulted to false)
boolean correctAnswer = false;
//MAK: Add new condition for checking need of input
boolean needAnswer = true;
do {
// Create two random numbers between 1 and 100
num1 = random.nextInt(100);
num1++;
num2 = random.nextInt(100);
num2++;
// Displaying numbers for user and getting user input for answer
System.out.println("Adding numbers...");
System.out.printf("What is: %d + %d? Please enter answer below",
num1, num2);
result = num1 + num2;
while(needAnswer){
try {
input = scanner.nextInt();
needAnswer = false;
} catch (Exception ex) {
// Print error message
System.out.println("Sorry, invalid number entered for addition");
// flush scanner
scanner.next();
needAnswer = true;
}
} ;
// Line break for code clarity
System.out.println();
// if else statement to determine if answer is correct
if (result == input) {
System.out.println("Well done, you guessed corectly!");
correctAnswer = true;
} else {
System.out.println("Sorry incorrect, please guess again");
needAnswer = true;
}
} while (!correctAnswer);
}
}
If you want to have the following:
1) Ask the user how much is x + y
2) Let the user answer
3) If answer is invalid (e.g. user typed in "www"), let the user type his answer to question 1) again
than you should replace your inner do-while loop with the following:
boolean validInput = true;
do {
try {
input = scanner.nextInt();
} catch (Exception ex) {
// Print error message
System.out.println("Sorry, invalid number entered for addition. Please enter your answer again.");
// flush scanner
scanner.next();
validInput = false;
}
} while (!validInput);

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