Having a Problem Compiling with 2 methods

[Hey Taclone]

I cant figure out how to get the compiler to acccept my new method that I want to use in my first method. It isn't remembering my array that I created in the first method. If you could help me that would be awesome :)

import java.text.DecimalFormat;
import java.text.NumberFormat;

public class project10 {

public static void main(String [] args) {
System.out.println("Perezjm");
int[] array = new int [100000];
int a;
int b;
int c;
int d;
int e;

for(int n = 0; n < 99999; n++){
int randomNumber = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
array[n] = randomNumber;
}
a = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
b = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
c = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
d = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
e = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
}

public boolean linearSearch(int key) {
int index = 0;
while(index < 100000) {
if(array[index] == key) {
return true;
}
if(array[index] < key) {
return false;
}
index++;
}
return false;
}

}

[gcalvin]

Please use CODE tags and format your code properly so we can read it easily.

import java.text.DecimalFormat;
import java.text.NumberFormat;

public class project10 {

    public static void main(String [] args) {
    	System.out.println("Perezjm");
    	int[] array = new int [100000];
    	int a;
    	int b;
    	int c;
    	int d;
    	int e;
    	
    	for(int n = 0; n < 99999; n++){
    		int randomNumber = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
    		array[n] = randomNumber;
    	}

OK, so we have an array of 99,999 random ints, and one lonely zero out there at array[99999].

    	a = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
    	b = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
    	c = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
    	d = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);
    	e = (int)(Math.random() * 100000);

...and five more random ints that we just throw away, because main() is ending here and we haven't done anything with them. Our array gets thrown away too, because it was declared in main(). So all that we've done of any consequence is to print "Perezjm" to the console.

    }

    public boolean linearSearch(int key) {
        int index = 0;
        while(index < 100000) {
            if(array[index] == key) {

We don't have any valid array variable here, so we'll get a compile error. That array variable either needs to be an instance variable of the class, or needs to be passed as a parameter to this method.

                return true;
            }
            if(array[index] < key) {
                return false;

This looks like a very bad idea unless we somehow know that our array is sorted in descending order. In any case, do we really only want to know that key is somewhere in the array? We don't need to know where?

            }
            index++;
        }
        return false;
    }

}

-Gary-

[Hey Taclone]

Yea, the code isn't complete. I was kinda of finishing the total project in parts. I really appreciate the insight and sorry it wasnt in the proper format. I have it like that when I write it but it didnt paste back that way :/ You answered the question I had though. I couldnt figure out why it wouldnt accept the previously declared array but I guess it has to either be the parameter or in the method. Is there any way to share it from the main method?

[gcalvin]

Is there any way to share it from the main method?

Yes. Pass it as a parameter.

Arrays are objects in Java, so an array variable holds a reference to the object. When you pass an array variable as a parameter, the array is not copied, but remains where it is, and the method receives a reference to it.

-Gary-

[Hey Taclone]

But if I am using the method to search the key wouldnt the key need to be the parameter in this case?

[gcalvin]

But if I am using the method to search the key wouldnt the key need to be the parameter in this case?

You can have two parameters. Heck, you can have lots more than that.

-Gary-

[Hey Taclone]

Ok one more question and I think i should be good. How would I word it. Would it be:
public static boolean linearSearch(int key, int array)

And thank you so much for all the help.

[gcalvin]

Not int array, but int[] array, just like you declared it. And you will probably want to return the index where the key is located in the array.

    public int linearSearch(int[] array, int searchKey) {
        ...
    }

-Gary-