Illegal start of type/expression (Bracket placement help?)

Question

So I'm very new to java and I'm trying to write a program that will print a correct fine for overdue books. I've read multiple questions like this and most of them involve misplacement of curly brackets, but I cannot find a bracket error anywhere. I keep getting multiple errors in my program, but most of the read "illegal start of type" or "illegal start of expression" Could someone help me with my code/give me some tips on bracket placement?

Here is my code:

public class BookFine
{ 
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int daysLate = 0;
        int bookCost = 0;
        int result = 0;

        System.out.print("Enter how many days your book is overdue: ");
        int daysLate = IO.readInt();
        System.out.println("Days Late = " + daysLate);

        System.out.print("How much does your book cost(enter in cents): ");
        int bookCost = IO.readInt();
        System.out.println("Book Cost = " + bookCost);

        if (daysLate=<7)
        {
            result=daysLate*10;
        }
        else 
            if(daysLate>7)
            {
                result=(daysLate-7)*20+70;
            }

        if(daysLate>90)
        {
            result= bookCost+1000;
        }

        IO.outputStringAnswer(result);
    }
}

Answer 1

There is an issue regarding declaring variable twice in the program. I have corrected the code. Please refer below code.

public class BookFine {
public static void main(String[] args)
{   int daysLate = 0;
    int bookCost = 0;
    int result = 0;

    System.out.print("Enter how many days your book is overdue: ");
    daysLate = IO.readInt();
    System.out.println("Days Late = " + daysLate);

    System.out.print("How much does your book cost(enter in cents): ");
    bookCost = IO.readInt();
    System.out.println("Book Cost = " + bookCost);

    if (daysLate<=7)
    {
        result=daysLate*10;
    }
    else 
        if(daysLate>7)
        {
            result=(daysLate-7)*20+70;
    }

    if(daysLate>90)
    {
        result= bookCost+1000;
    }


    IO.outputStringAnswer(result);
}
}

Answer 2

You appear to have no brackets for your else branch

else 
if(daysLate>7)
    {
        result=(daysLate-7)*20+70;
}

if(daysLate>90)
{
    result= bookCost+1000;
}

Should be

else 
{
    if(daysLate>7)
    {
        result=(daysLate-7)*20+70;
    }

    if(daysLate>90)
    {
        result= bookCost+1000;
    }
}

Answer 3

There were several errors in the code I was able to identify.

first the expression:

if(daysLate=<7)

is backwards. It should read

if(daysLate<=7)

Next, at the start of the code just under main you are declaring your variables "daysLate, bookCost". Then, after your line:

System.out.print("Enter how many days your book is overdue: ");

you are redeclaring the variables as:

int DaysLate

Remove the "int" portion on both daysLate and bookCost and it should run fine assuming you have an IO class defined somewhere.

Answer 4

There's a few problems here.

1. daysLate=<7; I assume that you mean to use the <= operator. Fixing this will resolve the specific error you're asking about
2. int daysLate = IO.readInt();; The problem with this line is that you've already declared a variable named 'daysLate'. This can be fixed in one of two ways: either remove the 'int' at the start of this line, or remove the original declaration on line 4. (I prefer the former.)
3. IO.readInt(); there is no class named IO, at least not in terms of what's imported by your code. There are a number of different ways that you can read input from the keyboard, however. If this is your intent (and it appears like it is), you might want to look up the documentation and examples for the java.util.Scanner class. I repeat, there are more than one ways to accomplish this, even if you don't want to use Scanner, so pick your poison :)
4. IO.outputStringAnswer(result); Same as #3, except that this time it looks like you're trying to output the result somewhere. Perhaps System.out.println() is in order here.
5. int bookCost = IO.readInt(); Same as #2 and #3. 'bookCost' is already defined in this scope, so you don't need to declare it again (remove 'int'). And again, you will need to write working keyboard input.
6. Finally--and this isn't an error per se--you should work on your Indent Style. It will greatly help your code readability, which will in turn help you write better code. Code that you and your colleagues enjoy reading is good (and hopefully healthy) code. Most developers these days use the 1TBF style, from my experience.

Oh, and Welcome to Java!