How to return value from method that has an array in its parameter in Java?

Question

I have this code but it doesn't work!

public class Trial
{
    public static void main (String [] args)
    {
        int average;
        int m = 0;

        int [] nums = {1,6,8,9,10,60,72};

        average = getAverage(int [] nums);
    }

    public static int getAverage(int [] a)
    {
        int sum = 0;
        for(int i=0; i<a.length; i++)
            sum = sum +a[i];

        int avg = sum/a.length;
        return avg;
    }
}

Where is the problem ? I need to get the average of that array by calling a method that calculate the average.

Also, consider using the expression: for (int i : a) { sum += i; } — Dilum Ranatunga
– Dilum Ranatunga, Commented Jan 10, 2012 at 19:50

Bhesh Gurung · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-10 19:44:10Z

8

Change your method call:

average = getAverage(nums);

answered Jan 10, 2012 at 19:44

Bhesh Gurung

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Comments

NPE · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-10 19:45:21Z

3

I see two problems:

average = getAverage(int [] nums) should read average = getAverage(nums).
The function returns an int. You might want to consider using floating-point math for the result. Otherwise you're truncating the answer to the nearest int.

answered Jan 10, 2012 at 19:45

NPE

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5 Comments

AbdullahR Over a year ago

Yeah it works! silly mistake :( Yeah, I need it to be as the nearest integer

Hector Sanchez Over a year ago

to the nearest? so you need to make a Round or truncate or something because this line int avg = sum/a.length; may raise you an exception when you get a floating point

NPE Over a year ago

@Mr. No, it won't throw an exception. It'll quietly truncate.

Clockwork-Muse Over a year ago

@Mr. - The entire thing is integer math, there's no way an exception will be thrown due to 'floating point'. The only sort of exception that could be encountered is if the array is empty (divide by zero). Explicitly invoking Round() may be called for (although casting one or both operators would be necessary).

Hector Sanchez Over a year ago

Thanks for the explanation didn't know about it, that it was called explicity, thanks!

Hector Sanchez · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-10 19:44:25Z

1

average = getAverage(int [] nums); //this is wrong

average = getAverage(nums); //this is right. Just sintaxis.

answered Jan 10, 2012 at 19:44

Hector Sanchez

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Comments

Shamim Hafiz - MSFT · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-10 19:46:58Z

0

avg can be a floating point value, but your implementation will always return integer.

Consider using floating point value for sum and avg and change return type to double.

answered Jan 10, 2012 at 19:46

Shamim Hafiz - MSFT

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