Is there a way to convert a string or character field in java to an math operator?

Question

In relatively new to java though i have been programming for sometime now. i figure doing a fun math project for my daughter to help her learn math would be an easy way to test what java is capable of. So in effort to try and learn efficient ways of doing programming, Is there a way to convert a string or character value from (/,,-,+) to an operator /-+?

example:

 string/char  textin = ""
 text = JOptionPane "input box"   ("*")
 int results = 0
 int num1 = 9
 int num2 = 5

 public static void calc(int num1,int num2, string/char textin)
 {
  results = num1 "some method"(textin) num2         // convert "*" to *
 }

The purpose of this question is to reduce the amount of calculations needed to due all four operators. To use one generic method to do all four operators. Is this possible?

searching the web is your friend: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3422673/evaluating-a-math-expression-given-in-string-form — Tom Freudenberg, Oct 31 '15 at 23:54

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 31 '15 at 23:50

6

No, that's not possible. The closest you can come is define a helper method that interprets the string as an operator and applies it.

public static double operate(double x, double y, String operator) {
    switch(operator) {
         case "*":
             return x*y;
         case "/":
             return x/y;
         // etc.
         default:
             throw IllegalArgumentException("Unknown operator");
    }
}

answered Oct 31 '15 at 23:50

wvdz

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I figured so but it doesn't hurt to ask. – Kyle5385 Oct 31 '15 at 23:53
Thank you for your help. – Kyle5385 Oct 31 '15 at 23:56
No problem @Kyle5385, If this answers your question, don't forget to accept it as the correct answer. – wvdz Nov 01 '15 at 08:51

Is there a way to convert a string or character field in java to an math operator?

1 Answers1