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I am currently working on a Triangle related object class, and I am having trouble with my static method.

For the homework assignment, my professor specifically wants this

A static method isTriangle() that accepts 3 double values as lengths of sides and returns true if the given sides can form a triangle, otherwise returns false. [help: sides s1, s2 and s3 can form a triangle IF s1 < s2 + s3 and s2 < s1 + s3 and s3 < s1 + s2].

What I currently have is:

package Homework;

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Triangle {
  Scanner scan1 = new Scanner(System.in);
  private double side1;
  private double side2;
  private double side3;

  public Triangle(double s1, double s2, double s3) {
    this.side1 = s1;
    this.side2 = s2;
    this.side3 = s3;
  }    

  public static boolean isTriangle(Triangle verify) {
    return (side1 < side2 + side3 && side2 < side1 + side3 && side3 < side1 + side2);
  }    
}

This is the error message I am getting:

Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field.
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6
  • Actually I believe that you're looking for a shortcut asking this on StackOverflow. Just follow the assignment: your isTriangle has nothing to do with the proposed in the whole exercice. Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 9:37
  • If you want to access the fields of your Triangle object verify, then you should use verify.side1 etc. Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 9:43
  • @MatíasFidemraizer I'm not really asking for a shortcut or a blatant answer. This has more to do with why I'm getting an error message. Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 9:44
  • @Zepheriah Check my answer. I'm not going to provide you the solution since it's very obvious: read the exercice carefully! Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 9:49
  • @Roshana Don't give answer for the sake of points. Let him/her understand the concept first. Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 9:59

5 Answers 5

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3

You can't access instance variable inside a static method. You can only access static variables or static methods directly inside a static method .So use the parameter in isTriangle() method.

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0

You can modify the static function to the following:

public static boolean isTriangle(Triangle verify) {
  return verify.getSide1() < (verify.getSide2() + verify.getSide3()) 
     && verify.getSide2() < (verify.getSide1() + verify.getSide3()) 
     && verify.getSide3() < (verify.getSide1() + verify.getSide2());
}

FYI: I have not tested the actual code. You should also use getter/setter or make the private fields to public to use verify.side1 instead of verify.getSide1().

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0

You have to use parameter verify in your static method, instead of fields in Triangle class. Eg:

public static boolean isTriangle(Triangle verify) {
    return (verify.side1 < verify.side2 + verify.side3 && verify.side2 < verify.side1 + verify.side3 && verify.side3 < verify.side1 + verify.side2);
  }
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0

You're trying to access instance variables inside a static method. Hence the error "cannot make static reference to the non-static fields". I do not want to give away more clues as this is an assignment and you should figure it out by yourself.

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0

You're trying to access instance members from a static one - this isn't ever possible -. This is the source of the error.

About the assignment, just follow its instructions:

A static method isTriangle() that accepts 3 double values as lengths of sides and returns true if the given sides can form a triangle <--

I don't see a static method with 3 inputs of type double. You'll get the answer yourself if you just do what your teacher has proposed you in the whole exercice.

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