Need help writing simple if statement involving absolute value without using Math.abs()

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Hi, I'm doing a practice test for my Introductory Java class. It's fill in the blank and our teacher wants us to write a simple if statement for various problems. The one I'm stumped with is below. We aren't supposed to use Math.abs(); and we're apparently only supposed to write one line of code.

3. x absolute value is less than 100
if ( )

any hints on how to accomplish this would be appreciated!

Thank you,
Matt

Posted 21-Feb-13 19:25pm

msg1991

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Gian rebollido 26-Mar-13 1:49am

can we?? i don't think so..:)

2 solutions

Solution 1

Very simply try

if (x>100 || x < -100)
{
  return true;
}
else
{
  return false;
}

Posted 21-Feb-13 19:31pm

Abhinav S

v3

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 22-Feb-13 1:40am

No! Are you serious?! It's just:

return (x>100 || x < -100); //!!!

—SA

Abhinav S 22-Feb-13 1:52am

I doubt that he just wants to return boolean values. Just made it cleared for the OP.
He can replace true and false with his own implementation.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 22-Feb-13 1:56am

No matter, if someone looks just at you code sample, what that person should think?..
—SA

Abhinav S 22-Feb-13 1:57am

So long as the OP understands, why would I care what people think. :)

msg1991 22-Feb-13 1:44am

I'm confused by your code, it applies to x > 100 and x < -100 which is outside of the bounds of the absolute value of x < 100.

After thinking more on the topic, wouldn't the solution be
if (x => 0 && x <= 100)?

Abhinav S 22-Feb-13 1:56am

Think of a simple scenario wehre the value is -95.
Abs would return 95 which is leas than 100 and hence the condition is true.

if (x => 0 && x <= 100) would return false.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 22-Feb-13 2:00am

(Doh...) I answered, please see...
—SA

msg1991 22-Feb-13 2:04am

Oh alright, that makes a lot more sense! But at the same time you also included x > 100.

So with a scenario of x > 100 lets say 150. the abs of 150 is greater than 100 yet the question requires an abs of less than 100.

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-21T19:59:00

Solution 2

You don't have to use Math. You can simply write:

Java

if (x*x < 10000) //...

Simple, isn't it?

—SA

Posted 21-Feb-13 19:59pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

msg1991 22-Feb-13 2:11am

This solution seems like it would apply perfectly to the question. I didn't think it would be this simple! Thank you :)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 22-Feb-13 11:31am

Sure. You are very welcome.
Good luck, call again.
—SA