How to return an int value stuck in a for loop

Question

Lets assume Num is simply 3.

 public static int income(Scanner console, int number)
{
int incomeNum = console.nextInt();
int amount;
for(int i = 0; i <= number; i++)
{
    System.out.println("Next income amount?");
    incomeNum = console.nextInt();
    amount += incomeNum;
}
return amount;
}

I need the incomeNum to add itself up when the user puts in a number and store it into amount and have that amount be returned to the main. I'm stuck because it says the amount is not initialized...

Change `int amount;` to `int amount = 0;`. You can't add `incomeNum` to `amount` when `amount` has no value. — RaminS, Mar 13 '19 at 23:19
Possible duplicate of [Why are local variables not initialized in Java?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/415687/why-are-local-variables-not-initialized-in-java) — RaminS, Mar 13 '19 at 23:20
Possible duplicate of [Variable might not have been initialized error](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2448843/variable-might-not-have-been-initialized-error) — GBlodgett, Mar 13 '19 at 23:38
@MoreFoam Yes, I saw that error when working on my code and fixed it. — Adan Vivero, Mar 14 '19 at 00:51

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 13 '19 at 23:21

4

You have the right idea, but your problem is that you actually dont give int amount a value.

Try int amount = 0;

answered Mar 13 '19 at 23:21

nzimpossible

318
1
9

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 13 '19 at 23:28

3

You just need to give (amount) a value from the beginning.

int amount = 0;

everything else remains the same. Good luck.

answered Mar 13 '19 at 23:28

Fady E

346
3
16

Nahuel · Answer 3 · 2021-02-09T22:48:28.067

2

You have to initialize the int amount = 0; in order. Hope it helps!

edited Feb 09 '21 at 22:48

answered Mar 13 '19 at 23:35

Nahuel

158
8

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 13 '19 at 23:38

"A local variable in Java is a variable that's declared within the body of a method. And in Java local variables don't have a default value (i.e. not even zero or null)." So if you use a local variable without first initializing it, the compiler will throw an error when trying to run the program.

The same happened with your local variable "amount" and once you initialized it with amount = 0; , now it works. Hope this clarifies the concept!

How to return an int value stuck in a for loop

4 Answers4