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Thread: Null Pointer Exception

  1. #1
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    Default Null Pointer Exception

    Hello, I am getting a null pointer exception when I try to execute my program. This is part of it, I included all the methods that the compiler doesn't like. However, everything works fine except when I try to add this line: poppop = result.multiply(divisor);, which is near the very end of the code.

    My demo program contains just this: BigInt B3 = dividend.divideBy(divisor); (LINE 8) <--------------

    Thanks, I don't really know how to fix this and I really do not have a good grasp on null pointer exceptions.

    Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
    at BigInt.singleDigitMultiply(BigInt.java:453)
    at BigInt.multiply(BigInt.java:427)
    at BigInt.divideHelper(BigInt.java:551)
    at BigInt.divideBy(BigInt.java:510)
    at Demo.main(Demo.java:8)

    EDIT: ENTIRE CODE (ive marked the location of the errors)

    /**
     * @author JamesH
     *
     */
     
    import java.util.*;
     
    public class BigInt {
     
    	private boolean isPositive = true;
    	private List<Integer> num = new ArrayList<Integer>();
    	private String str;
     
    	// Default constructor, no arguments
    	public BigInt() 
    	{
     
    		//do nothing
    	}
     
    	public BigInt(String str) {
     
    		this.str = str;
     
    		// check for legal string
    		if (isLegal(str)) 
    		{
    			readBigInt(str);
    		}
    		else
    		{
    			System.out.println("Illegal String Input: " + str);
    		}
    	}
     
    	// Both B1 and B2 are positive and/or B1 is bigger than B2 and/or B1 and B2
    	// could be the same.
    	// - returns the BigInt result
    	private BigInt addHelper(BigInt B1, BigInt B2) {
     
     
    		int size1 = B1.num.size(), size2 = B2.num.size();// sizes of B1 and B2
    		BigInt result = new BigInt();
     
    		boolean carryover = false; // if the result of adding two digits is > 9,
    									// set to true
    									// In case carryover is true, add 1 to next
    									// more significant digit addition.
    									//
    									// add from least significant digit, leaving
    									// one space unoccupied at
    									// result in case of carryover.
    		int first = size1 - 1, 
    			second = size2 - 1,
    			three;
     
    		// B1 and B2 are positive and B1 >= B2.
     
    		for (int i = size1 - 1; i >= 0; i--) { // the digits of B1 from least
    												// significant digit.
     
    			// B2 can be shorter in size. First and second are indices of B1 and
    			// B2, respectively.
    			if (second >= 0) {
    				// if carryover has happened, add one to the result.
    				if (carryover == true) {
    					three = B1.num.get(first) + B2.num.get(second) + 1;
    					carryover = false;
    				} else
    					three = B1.num.get(first) + B2.num.get(second);
     
    			} else {
    				// if carryover has happened, add one to the result.
    				if (carryover == true) {
    					three = B1.num.get(first) + 1;
    					carryover = false;
    				} else
    					three = B1.num.get(first);
    			}
     
    			// check if a new carryover has occurred at this new digit after
    			// adding two digits.
    			if (three >= 10)
    				carryover = true;
    			three = three % 10; // 9 + 9 = 18; and 18 % 10 = 8; carryover has
    								// occurred
    			// add three to result's num and go to next lower digit.
    			result.num.add(0, three);
    			first--;
    			second--;
     
    		} // End of for loop.
     
    		// if, at the end, carryover has happened, the first
    		// slot of result's ArrayList num gets one.
    		if (carryover)
    			result.num.set(0, 1);
     
    		return result;
    	}
     
    	// Both B1 and B2 are positive and/or B1 is bigger than B2 and/or B1 and B2
    	// could be the same.
    	// - returns the BigInt result
    	private BigInt subtractHelper(BigInt B1, BigInt B2) {
    		int size1 = B1.num.size(), size2 = B2.num.size();// sizes of B1 and B2
    		BigInt result = new BigInt();
     
    		boolean borrowed = false; // if the first digit is smaller than second,
    									// = true.
    									// In case borrowed is true, subtract 1 from
    									// next more significant digit
    									// of B1.
    									//
    									// subtract from least significant digit.
     
    		int first = size1 - 1, 
    			second = size2 - 1,
    			three;
     
    		// B1 and B2 are positive and B1 >= B2.
    		int B1_current_digit;
    		for (int i = size1 - 1; i >= 0; i--) { // all the digits of B1 from
    												// least significant digit.
     
    			// B2 can be shorter in size. First and second are indices of B1 and
    			// B2, respectively.
    			if (second >= 0) {
    				// if borrow has happened from previous round.
    				// subtract one from B1's current digit.
    				if (borrowed == true) {
    					if (B1.num.get(first) == 0) {
    						B1_current_digit = 9;
    						borrowed = true;
    					} else { // B1's current digit is non-zero and can just
    								// subtract one for borrowed case.
    						B1_current_digit = B1.num.get(first) - 1;
    						borrowed = false;
    					}
     
    				} else {
    					B1_current_digit = B1.num.get(first);
     
    					// if the resulting B1 current digit is smaller than that of
    					// B2, have to borrow from left.
    					if (B1_current_digit < B2.num.get(second)) {
    						borrowed = true;
    						B1_current_digit = 10 + B1_current_digit;
    					} else { //
    						borrowed = false;
    					}
    				}
     
    				three = B1_current_digit - B2.num.get(second);
     
    			} else {
    				// if borrow has happened from previous round.
    				// Then, subtract one from B1's current digit.
    				if (borrowed == true) {
    					if (B1.num.get(first) == 0) {
    						B1_current_digit = 9;
    						borrowed = true;
    					} else { // B1's current digit is non-zero and can just
    								// subtract one for borrowed case.
    						B1_current_digit = B1.num.get(first) - 1;
    						borrowed = false;
    					}
     
    				} else {
    					B1_current_digit = B1.num.get(first);
    				}
     
    				three = B1_current_digit;
    			}
     
    			// set three to result's num and go to next lower digit.
    			result.num.add(0, three);
    			first--;
    			second--;
     
    		} // End of for loop.
     
    		// if, at the end, result's num value at index 0 is zero, remove
    		if (result.num.size() > 1 && result.num.get(0) == 0)
    			result.num.remove(0);
     
    		return result;
    	}
     
    	private boolean isBigger(BigInt B2) {
     
     
    		// B1 is negative and B2 is positive. B1 is not bigger than B2.
    		if (this.isPositive == false && B2.isPositive == true)
    			return false;
    		// B1 is positive and B2 is negative. B1 is bigger than B2.
    		else if (this.isPositive == true && B2.isPositive == false)
    			return true;
     
    		// Both B1 (this class instance) and B2 are negative.
    		else if (this.isPositive == false && B2.isPositive == false) {
    			if (this.num.size() < B2.num.size())
    				return true; // -12 > -120
    			else if (this.num.size() > B2.num.size())
    				return false; // -123 < -12
    			else { // -123 vs -125
    				for (int i = 0; i < this.num.size(); i++) {
    					if (this.num.get(i) > B2.num.get(i))
    						return false; // -222 < -122
    					else if (this.num.get(i) < B2.num.get(i))
    						return true; // -122 > -222
    					else
    						continue; // tie is broken by comparing the next
    									// following digits.
    				}
    			}
    		}
     
    		// Both B1 and B2 are positive.
    		else {
    			if (this.num.size() < B2.num.size())
    				return false; // 11 < 111
    			else if (this.num.size() > B2.num.size())
    				return true; // , 111 > 11
    			else { // Both B1 and B2 has same size => compare individual digits.
    				for (int i = 0; i < this.num.size(); i++) {
    					if (this.num.get(i) > B2.num.get(i))
    						return true; // 211 > 111
    					else if (this.num.get(i) < B2.num.get(i))
    						return false; // 111 < 211
    					else
    						continue;
    				}
     
    			}
    		}
     
    		return false;
    	}
     
    	public boolean isLarger(BigInt B2) {
    		return isBigger(B2);
    	}
     
    	// Add B2 to this current B1 and return result
    	public BigInt add(BigInt B2) {
    		BigInt result = new BigInt();
     
    		// Both B1 and B2 are positive.
    		if (this.isPositive && B2.isPositive) {
     
    			if (this.isBigger(B2) || (this.num.size() == B2.num.size())) {// "121345" > "123"
    				result = addHelper(this, B2);
    			} else { // B2 is bigger than B1 or equal to B2.
    				result = addHelper(B2, this);
    			}
     
    			// Both B1 and B2 are negative.
     
    		} else if (this.isPositive == false && B2.isPositive == false) {
     
    			BigInt absoluteB1 = new BigInt();
    			BigInt absoluteB2 = new BigInt();
     
    			absoluteB1 = this;
    			absoluteB1.isPositive = true;
    			absoluteB2 = B2;
    			absoluteB2.isPositive = true;
    			result = absoluteB1.add(absoluteB2);
    			result.isPositive = false;
     
    			this.isPositive = false;
    			B2.isPositive = false;
     
    		}
     
    		// B1 is negative and B2 is positive
    		else if (!this.isPositive && B2.isPositive) {
    			BigInt absoluteB1 = new BigInt();
     
    			absoluteB1 = this;
    			absoluteB1.isPositive = true;
     
    			if (this.num.size() > B2.num.size()) {
     
    				// This will do B1 - B2 and (B1 and B2 are positive.)
    				result = subtractHelper(absoluteB1, B2);
    				result.isPositive = false;
     
    			} else if (this.num.size() < B2.num.size()) {
     
    				// This will do B2 - B1 and (B1 and B2 are positive.)
    				result = subtractHelper(B2, absoluteB1);
    				result.isPositive = true;
     
    			} else { // B1 and B2 has same size.
     
    				if (absoluteB1.isBigger(B2)) {
    					result = subtractHelper(absoluteB1, B2);
    					result.isPositive = false;
     
    				} else {
    					// Positive B2 is bigger than absolute B1.
    					// This will do B2 - B1 and (B1 and B2 are positive.)
    					result = subtractHelper(B2, absoluteB1);
    					result.isPositive = true;
    				}
     
    			}
     
    			this.isPositive = false;
     
    			// B1 is positive and B2 is negative.
    		} else {
    			BigInt absoluteB2 = new BigInt();
     
    			absoluteB2 = B2;
    			absoluteB2.isPositive = true;
     
    			if (this.num.size() < B2.num.size()) {
     
    				// This will do B2 - B1 and (B1 and B2 are positive.)
    				result = subtractHelper(absoluteB2, this);
    				result.isPositive = false;
     
    			} else if (this.num.size() > B2.num.size()) {
     
    				// This will do B1 - B2 and (B1 and B2 are positive.)
    				result = subtractHelper(this, absoluteB2);
    				result.isPositive = true;
     
    			} else { // B1 and B2 has same size.
     
    				if (absoluteB2.isBigger(this)) {
    					result = subtractHelper(absoluteB2, this);
    					result.isPositive = false;
     
    				} else {
    					// Positive B1 is bigger than absolute B2.
    					// This will do B2 - B1 and (B1 and B2 are positive.)
    					result = subtractHelper(this, absoluteB2);
    					result.isPositive = true;
    				}
     
    			}
     
    			B2.isPositive = false;
    		}
     
     
    		return result;
    	}
     
    	// Subtract B2 from the current BigInt B1 and return result
    	public BigInt subtract(BigInt B2) {
    		BigInt result = new BigInt();
     
    		// Both B1 and B2 are positive.
    		if (this.isPositive && B2.isPositive) {
     
    			if (this.isBigger(B2)) {// "121345" > "123" (B1 is bigger than B2)
    				result = subtractHelper(this, B2);
    				result.isPositive = true;
    			} else { // B2 is bigger than B1 or equal to B2.
    				result = subtractHelper(B2, this);
    				int zero_count = 0;
    				for (int i = 0; i < result.num.size(); i++) {
    					if (result.num.get(i) == 0)
    						zero_count++;
    				}
    				if (zero_count == result.num.size()) {
    					result.isPositive = true;
    				} else
    					result.isPositive = false;
    			}
     
    			// II. Both B1 and B2 are negative.
     
    		} else if (this.isPositive == false && B2.isPositive == false) {
    			BigInt absoluteB2 = new BigInt();
     
    			absoluteB2 = B2;
    			absoluteB2.isPositive = true;
    			result = B2.add(this);
     
    			B2.isPositive = false;
    		}
     
    		// III. B1 is negative and B2 is positive
    		// It's like adding two negative numbers.
     
    		else if (!this.isPositive && B2.isPositive) {
    			BigInt absoluteB1 = new BigInt();
     
    			absoluteB1 = this;
    			absoluteB1.isPositive = true;
     
    			result = absoluteB1.add(B2);
    			result.isPositive = false;
     
    			// restore sign of B1
    			this.isPositive = false;
     
    			// IV. B1 is positive and B2 is negative.
    			// It's like adding two positive numbers.
    		} else {
    			BigInt absoluteB2 = new BigInt();
     
    			absoluteB2 = B2;
    			absoluteB2.isPositive = true;
     
    			result = this.add(absoluteB2);
     
    			// restore sign of B2
    			B2.isPositive = false;
    		}
     
    		return result;
    	}
     
    	public BigInt multiply(BigInt B2) {
    		BigInt result = new BigInt();
    		BigInt zero = new BigInt("0");
    		BigInt b = new BigInt();
     
    		for (int i = 0; i < B2.str.length(); ++i) {
    			b = singleDigitMultiply(                                 //ERROR<-------------------------------------
    					B2.str.charAt(B2.str.length() - i - 1), i);
    			result = result.add(b);
    		}
     
    		// anything * 0 is 0
    		if (this.add(zero).toString().equals("0") || B2.add(zero).toString().equals("0") ||
    				this.add(zero).toString().equals("-0") || B2.add(zero).toString().equals("-0"))
    			{
    				result.num.clear();
    				result.num.add(0);
    			}
    		else if ((!this.isPositive && B2.isPositive) ||
    				(this.isPositive && !B2.isPositive))
    		{
    			//if not 0, assign negative when -a * b or a * -b
    			result.isPositive = false;
    		}
     
    		return result;
    	}
     
    	private BigInt singleDigitMultiply(char b, int baseFactor) {
    		StringBuffer tmp = new StringBuffer("");
     
    		int carry = 0;
    		for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); ++i)  //ERROR<-------------------------------------
    		{
     
    			if (str.charAt(str.length() - i - 1) != '-' && str.charAt(str.length() - i - 1)
    				!= '+' && b != '-' && b != '+')
    			{
    				int d = str.charAt(str.length() - i - 1) - '0';
    				int r = d * (b - '0') + carry;
    				carry = r / 10;
    				int digit = r % 10;
    				tmp.append(digit);
    			}
    		}
     
    		if (carry != 0)
    			tmp.append(carry);
     
    		String result = tmp.reverse().toString();
    		// add enough zeros to the result
    		for (int i = 0; i < baseFactor; ++i) {
    			result += '0';
    		}
     
     
    		return new BigInt(result);
    	}
     
    	public BigInt divideBy(BigInt B2)
    	{
    		BigInt result;
    		BigInt divisor = B2;
    		BigInt dividend = this;
     
    		divisor.isPositive = true;
    		dividend.isPositive = true;
     
     
    		if (divisor.toString().equals("0") ||
    			divisor.toString().equals("+0") ||
    			divisor.toString().equals("-0"))
    		{
    			System.out.println("CANNOT DIVIDE BY 0");
    			//cannot divide by 0
    			result = new BigInt("NaN"); 
    		}
    		else if (divisor.equals(dividend))
    		{
    			//anything divided by self is 1
    			result = new BigInt("1");
    		}
    		else if (dividend.equals("0"))
    		{
    			//0 divided by anything is 0
    			result = new BigInt("0");
    		}
    		else
    		{ 
    			result = divideHelper(dividend, divisor);                             //ERROR<-------------------------------------
    			if ((!this.isPositive && B2.isPositive) ||
    					(this.isPositive && !B2.isPositive))
    			{
    				//if not 0, assign negative when -a * b or a * -b
    				result.isPositive = false;
    			}
    		}
     
     
    		return result;
     
    	}
     
    	public BigInt divideHelper(BigInt dividend, BigInt divisor)
    	{
     
     
    		int size1 = dividend.num.size();// 
    		int size2 = divisor.num.size();
     
     
    		BigInt result = new BigInt();
     
     
     
     
    		for (int i = 0; i < size1-1; i++) {
    			//if (divisor.num.get(0) >= dividend.num.get(i)) {
    				int n = dividend.num.get(i) / divisor.num.get(0); 
    		result.num.add(i,n);
     
    		}
     
    		String s = result.toString();
    		String j = divisor.toString();
    		int k = Integer.parseInt(s);
    		int po = Integer.parseInt(j);
    		int pop = k * po;
     
    		BigInt poppop = new BigInt();
    		poppop = result.multiply(divisor);                                //ERROR<-------------------------------------
    		BigInt poopy = new BigInt();
    		poopy =  result.subtract(poppop);
     
    		return result;
     
    }
    	public String toString() {
     
    		String string = "";
    		if (isPositive == false)
    			string = string + "-";
     
    		for (int j = 0; j < num.size(); j++)
    			string = string + num.get(j);
     
    		return string;
    	}
     
    	// str.length() >= 1
    	public boolean isLegal(String str) {
    		boolean ok = true;
    		int length = str.length();
    		for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
    			if (i == 0) {
    				// The first character of str should be one of (1) "+",
    				// (2) "-", or (3) "0" - "9"
    				if (!(str.charAt(i) == '+' || str.charAt(i) == '-'
    					|| (str.charAt(i) >= '0' && str.charAt(i) <= '9'))) 
    				{
    					ok = false;
    				}
    			} 
    			else if (ok) 
    			{   // index > 1.
    				// Now check index 1 to length - 1
    				// Once the index 0 is all checked up, we just have to see
    				// numbers and nothing else.
    				if (!(str.charAt(i) >= '0' && str.charAt(i) <= '9'))
    				{
    					ok = false;
    				}
    			}
    		}
    		return ok;
    	}
     
    	public void readBigInt(String str) {
     
    		int size; // length of the str
    		size = str.length();
     
    		// case I: string of length 1 ("+", "-", "single number", or
    		// illegal symbol string.
    		if (size == 1) {
    			if (str.charAt(0) == '+') {
    				num.add(0);
    			} // For "+" as input, add 0 at index 0
    			else if (str.charAt(0) == '-') {
    				num.add(0);
    			} // "-" as input, do the same.
    			else {
    				num.add(str.charAt(0) - '0');
    			}
    		} else {
    			// case II: string of length > 1.
    			if (str.charAt(0) == '+') { // "+123"
    				for (int i = 1; i < size; i++) {
    					num.add(str.charAt(i) - '0');
    				}
    			} else if (str.charAt(0) == '-') { // "-123"
    				for (int i = 1; i < size; i++) {
    					num.add(str.charAt(i) - '0');
    				}
    				isPositive = false;
    			} else { // "1234"
    				for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
    					num.add(str.charAt(i) - '0');
    				}
    			}
    		}
     
    	}
     
    }
    Last edited by jameshl2008; October 21st, 2013 at 07:16 PM. Reason: entire code


  2. #2
    Administrator copeg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Null Pointer Exception

    There are many variables that aren't included in the code, and we don't know which line is 452....so my advice: go to line 452 of the code...check all variables to make sure they have been initialized. If nothing jumps out to you, add some println's to debug print the value off all variables used on that line, one of which should be null - then backtrack through the code to make sure the variable gets initialized.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Null Pointer Exception

    Thanks, I've tried doing this but it seems as if everything is being initialized. I tried initializing str to an empty string but that didnt work. Ive added all the code.

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    Default Re: Null Pointer Exception

    Also posted at: Null Pointer Exception - Dev Shed
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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

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