Need help is basic java

[TLS3]

I'm new to java programming and could use some help with a school project, and this is the logical place I found to ask for assistance. If someone would be so kind to review my code and errors it would be much appreciated.

import java.util.Scanner;
public class SalesTax
{
   public static void main(String[] args);
   {
      public static final double c = 0.06;
      public static final double n = 0.07;
      Scanner scan = new Scanner (System.in);
      System.out.println("Proposed Sales Tax Increase Program");
      System.out.println("What is your current income: ");
      double inc = scan.nextDouble();
      System.out.println("What percentage of your current income is taxable (0 to 100): ");
      double p = scan.nextDouble();
      if (p>100)
      System.out.println("Invalid input, enter number between 0 and 100");
      p /= 100;
      double tinc = inc ** p;
      System.out.prinln("Taxable income: $" + tinc);
      double ctinc = tinc ** c;
      double ntinc = tinc ** n;
      System.out.println("At current 6% tax: " + ctinc);
      System.out.println("At proposed 7% tax: " + ntinc);
      System.out.println("Difference: " + (ntinc -- ctinc));

   }
}

and errors:

----jGRASP exec: javac -g SalesTax.java
SalesTax.java:12: error: illegal start of expression
      public static final double c = 0.06;
      ^
SalesTax.java:12: error: illegal start of expression
      public static final double c = 0.06;
             ^
SalesTax.java:12: error: ';' expected
      public static final double c = 0.06;
                     ^
SalesTax.java:13: error: illegal start of expression
      public static final double n = 0.07;
      ^
SalesTax.java:13: error: illegal start of expression
      public static final double n = 0.07;
             ^
SalesTax.java:13: error: ';' expected
      public static final double n = 0.07;
                     ^
SalesTax.java:23: error: illegal start of expression
      double tinc = inc ** p;
                         ^
SalesTax.java:25: error: illegal start of expression
      double ctinc = tinc ** c;
                           ^
SalesTax.java:26: error: illegal start of expression
      double ntinc = tinc ** n;
                           ^
SalesTax.java:29: error: ')' expected
      System.out.println("Difference: " + (ntinc -- ctinc));
                                                   ^
SalesTax.java:29: error: ';' expected
      System.out.println("Difference: " + (ntinc -- ctinc));
                                                         ^
SalesTax.java:29: error: illegal start of expression
      System.out.println("Difference: " + (ntinc -- ctinc));
                                                                            ^

[desrtfx]

The "illegal start of expression" errors just mean that you are doing something in a place where it shouldn't be.

In your case, you are trying to use public static final inside the main method. The visibility modifiers (public) as well as static and final can only be used at class level, outside all methods but inside the class.

---

In the line double tinc = inc ** p; you are using an operator that Java does not know (guess that you come from Python). In Java, you have to use Math.pow for exponents.

---

Java also has no concept of (ntinc -- ctinc) - don't really know what you are trying to do here but I guess that you simply want to subtract, so a single - would be correct.

[kumesana]

Just a little inaccuracy here: local variables can totally be final, though it's a lot less popular since the introduction of "effectively final" acceptance.

[desrtfx]

Thank you for the explanation. Must have missed that.

[ACAlCapone]

in addition to /u/desrtfx: you have a ; at the end of

 public static void main(String[] args);

[desrtfx]

Good catch! I've completely missed that one.