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Thread: Illegal start of expression!

  1. #1
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    Default Illegal start of expression!

    I'm new to the forums, I am sorry if I do this incorrectly.

    Here is my code :

    1import java.util.Scanner;
    2
    3public class Lab4b
    4
    5{
    6
    7 public void main ()
    8 {
    9
    10 Scanner input = new Scanner( System.in );
    11
    12 int employee_name;
    13 int hours_worked;
    14 int pay_rate;
    15
    16 System.out.println( "Employee: %d" , employee_name );
    17
    18 if ( hours_worked <= 40 )
    19 System.out.println( "Gross pay: %d", hours_worked*pay_rate );
    20
    21 else
    22 System.out.println( "Gross pay: %d", 1.5*pay_rate*hours_worked );
    23
    24 if (hours_worked <= 40 )
    25 System.out.println( "Withholding Tax: %d", hours_worked*pay_rate*25% );
    26
    27 else
    28 System.out.println( "Withholding Tax: %d", 1.5*pay_rate*hours_worked*25% );
    29
    30 if (hours_worked <= 40 )
    31 System.out.println( "Net Pay: %d", hours_worked*pay_rate - hours_worked*pay_rate*25% );
    32
    33 else
    34 System.out.println( "Net Pay: %d", 1.5*pay_rate*hours_worked - 1.5*pay_rate*hours_worked*25% );
    35
    36
    37 }
    38
    39}






    The error happens at the end of lines 25, 28 , 31 and 34. JDK says that the " ); " at the end of each statement is the problem, however I am unsure.
    Thanks


  2. #2
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    The println method takes a single argument. The code you posted is giving it more than one arg separated by a comma
    Check that you are using the correct method. There are other printing methods that take more than one arg.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Norm For This Useful Post:

    NoobOfTheMonth (February 11th, 2013)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    Which print method should I use? printf produces the same result

  5. #4
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    Show how you tried to use printf. Also, please post code without line numbers, and please use code tags when posting code.

  6. #5
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    Please copy and paste here the full text of the error messages. Put the messages in code tags to preserve the location of the ^.
    Here is a sample:
    TestSorts.java:138: cannot find symbol
    symbol  : variable var
    location: class TestSorts
             var = 2;
             ^

    Please edit your post and wrap your code with
    [code=java]
    <YOUR CODE HERE>
    [/code]
    to get highlighting and preserve formatting.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  7. #6
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    This is my attempt at printf on the problem areas, thanks!

    if (hours_worked <= 40 )
    	System.out.printf( "Withholding Tax: %d", hours_worked*pay_rate*25% );
     
    	else 
    	System.out.printf( "Withholding Tax: %d", 1.5*pay_rate*hours_worked*25% );
     
    	if (hours_worked <= 40 )
    	System.out.printf( "Net Pay: %d", hours_worked*pay_rate - hours_worked*pay_rate*25% );
     
    	else
    	System.out.printf( "Net Pay: %d", 1.5*pay_rate*hours_worked - 1.5*pay_rate*hours_worked*25% );

    java:31: error: illegal start of expression
    Last edited by NoobOfTheMonth; February 11th, 2013 at 09:36 PM. Reason: added error

  8. #7
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    Where is the ^ located in the error message?

    hours_worked*pay_rate*25%
    The % at the end of that arthmetic expression is the modulus operator and needs a numeric value after it to make it a value arithmetic expression.
    For example: hours_worked*pay_rate*25%5

    Why are you putting a modulus operator ( % ) at the end of the expression?
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Norm For This Useful Post:

    NoobOfTheMonth (February 11th, 2013)

  10. #8
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    I was trying to get 25 percent of the product of those numbers, however I didn't know that the percentage was the problem. I could just use .25, correct?

  11. #9
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    I could just use .25, correct?
    Try it and see what happens.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to Norm For This Useful Post:

    NoobOfTheMonth (February 11th, 2013)

  13. #10
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    Default Re: Illegal start of expression!

    It got rid of the problem error, and now I just have some more minor stuff that I can take care of, thanks a lot

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