Java For Dummies, 8th Edition

Chapter 4

Making the Most of Variables and Their Values

IN THIS CHAPTER

Assigning values to things

Making things store certain types of values

Applying operators to get new values

The following conversation between Mr. Van Doren and Mr. Barasch never took place:

• Charles: A sea squirt eats its brain, turning itself from an animal into a plant.
• Jack: Is that your final answer, Charles?
• Charles: Yes, it is.
• Jack: How much money do you have in your account today, Charles?
• Charles: I have fifty dollars and twenty-two cents in my checking account.
• Jack: Well, you had better call the IRS, because your sea squirt answer is correct. You just won a million dollars to add to your checking account. What do you think of that, Charles?
• Charles: I owe it all to honesty, diligence, and hard work, Jack.

Some aspects of this dialogue can be represented in Java by a few lines of code.

Varying a Variable

No matter how you acquire your million dollars, you can use a variable to tally your wealth. Listing 4-1 shows the code.

LISTING 4-1 Using a Variable

amountInAccount = 50.22;amountInAccount = amountInAccount + 1000000.00;

You don't have to type the code in Listing 4-1 (or in any of this book's ...