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Java Java Objects Creating the MVP Conference Registration Assistant

I don't understand how to do this......

Task:

I've created a tool to help manage lines at tech conferences. The organizers would like to split the attendees into two lines during the registration process. I've added notes, examples and a new lesson in the Example.java tab.

Fix the getLineNumberFor method to return a 1 if the first character of lastName is between A and M or else return 2 if it is between N and Z.

I don't understand how to make it determine if it's between A and M or N and Z. We haven't gone through that, have we? I might of missed it. Or do letters work smilier to numbers? SO could I do

if (letter > A && letter < M) { return 1; } else { return 2; }

Would it work like that?

(All of this I am talking about is in the ConferenceRegistrationAssistant.java page at the bottom, or last method.)

Thanks!

ConferenceRegistrationAssistant.java
public class ConferenceRegistrationAssistant {

  /**
   * Assists in guiding people to the proper line based on their last name.
   *
   * @param lastName The person's last name
   * @return The line number based on the first letter of lastName
   */
  public int getLineNumberFor(String lastName) {
    if 
    int lineNumber = 0;
    /*
      lineNumber should be set based on the first character of the person's last name
      Line 1 - A thru M
      Line 2 - N thru Z

     */
    return lineNumber;
  }

}
Example.java
public class Example {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    /*
      IMPORTANT:  You can compare characters using <, >. <=, >= and == just like numbers
     */
    if ('C' < 'D') {
      System.out.println("C comes before D");
    }

    if ('B' > 'A') {
      System.out.println("B comes after A");
    }

    if ('E' >= 'E') {
      System.out.println("E is equal to or comes after E");
    }

    // This code is here for demonstration purposes only...
    ConferenceRegistrationAssistant assistant = new ConferenceRegistrationAssistant();
    /*
      Remember that there are 2 lines.
      Line #1 is for A-M
      Line #2 is for N-Z
     */
    int lineNumber = 0;
    /*
      This should set lineNumber to 2 because
      The last name is Zimmerman which starts with a Z.
      Therefore it is between N-Z
     */
    lineNumber = assistant.getLineNumberFor("Zimmerman");

    /*
      This method call should set lineNumber to 1, because 'A' from "Anderson" is between A-M.
     */
    lineNumber = assistant.getLineNumberFor("Anderson");

    /*
      Likewise Charlie Brown's 'B' is between 'A' and 'M', so lineNumber should be set to 1
     */
    lineNumber = assistant.getLineNumberFor("Brown");
  }

}

4 Answers

Tonnie Fanadez
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.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Tonnie Fanadez
UX Design Techdegree Graduate 22,796 Points

Hello Tianerad 999

Good Quiz, video tutorials show you the basics e.g. the charAt() method which you will use to get the first letter from the lastName variable. Then you need to see the examples provided on Example. java Tab which I have seen you have copy pasted here.

With this in mind, if the first letter on the lastName variable is less or equal to M you return 1 else you return 2 if the number is greater or equal to N

Please see how I worked out this challenge in code below.

public int getLineNumberFor(String lastName) {
    int lineNumber = 0;
    /*
      lineNumber should be set based on the first character of the person's last name
      Line 1 - A thru M
      Line 2 - N thru Z

     */

    if (lastName.charAt(0)<= 'M') {

      lineNumber = 1;}

      if(lastName.charAt(0)>='N'){
      lineNumber = 2;}
    return lineNumber;
  }

Hopes this helps.

Oh! Of course!I completely forgot about the char.At() method! Your code worked for me, but for the second if statment, shouldn't it be

if (lastName.charAt(0)<= 'M') {

  lineNumber = 1;} else if(lastName.charAt(0)>='N'){
  lineNumber = 2;}
return lineNumber;

}

?

Ok, thanks!

Matt Taylor
Matt Taylor
2,406 Points

Thanks both for sharing and answering this. My brain was fried.