Variable isn't initialized when trying to use methods

Question

calculateArea(Length, Height, Width);
     double area;
     calculateCost(area);
}

public static double calculateArea(int l, int h, int w) {
    //Variables
    double area;
    //Length = l;
    // Height = h;
    //Width = w;
    //Find the area
    area = l * h * w;

    //returns area outside the method
    return area; 
}

public static void calculateCost(double ar)

PaintCalculator.java:39: error: variable area might not have been initialized
      calculateCost(area);
                    ^
1 error

I can't figure out why it isn't initialized when I returned the value for area in the calculateArea method. I've tried declaring and initializing the double area; above calculateCost, but I'm stumped as to why area inside the calculateCost is set to double the area.

@HalilİbrahimOymacı I think that's why they're asking the question. — PC Luddite, Feb 28 '16 at 23:54
@PC Luddite This code has missing brackets. I want to corret this situation and correct indentation. — Halil İbrahim Oymacı, Feb 28 '16 at 23:56
From what I can guess from what you have posted, you have two "public static" methods. "double area;" is given in the first, but has no relation to anything in the second. — Gyro Gearloose, Feb 28 '16 at 23:57
On your second line, your `area` variable does not have any value attributed hence Java complains about that. Initialize it or attribute it the return value of `calculateArea(Length, Height, Width);`. — António Ribeiro, Feb 29 '16 at 00:01

Halil İbrahim Oymacı · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-29T00:11:23.513

1

You must assign your variable area to your function calculateArea:

  double area = calculateArea(Length, Height, Width);
  calculateCost(area);

edited Feb 29 '16 at 00:11

answered Feb 28 '16 at 23:53

Halil İbrahim Oymacı

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 28 '16 at 23:52

0

the value for area is currently null, set it equal to something or use the other method you have shown to calculate the area

answered Feb 28 '16 at 23:52

Suhas Bacchu

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Variable isn't initialized when trying to use methods

2 Answers2