Question

my library > cse110 - principles of programming home >
8.34: worked example- middle of 3
5 system.out.println(middle(1, 2, 3));
6 system.out.println(middle(2, 3, 1));
7 system.out.println(middle(3, 2, 3));
8
9 }
10
11 public static int middle(int a, int b, int c) {
12 if((a >= b && a <= c) || (b <= a && b >= c)) {
13 return a;
14 else if ((b >= a && b <= c) || (b <= a && b >= c)) {
15 return b;
16 } else {
17 return c;
18 }
19 }
20
else if ((b >= a && b <= c) || (b <= a && b >= c)) {
main.java:19: error: reached end of file while parsing
}
2 errors

Explanation:

Step1: Fix parsing error (missing brace)

Add a closing } at the end of the code to close the middle method, and ensure the main method is properly enclosed (check line 9's brace closes the main method).

Step2: Simplify boolean conditions

For a to be middle: (a >= b && a <= c) || (a <= b && a >= c) can be rewritten as (b <= a && a <= c) || (c <= a && a <= b) (clearer logic: a is between b and c, either order).
For b to be middle: (a <= b && b <= c) || (c <= b && b <= a) (b is between a and c, either order; original condition had redundant logic).

Step3: Test corrected code

Run the fixed code with the given test cases.

Corrected Code Snippet:

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(middle(1, 2, 3));
        System.out.println(middle(2, 3, 1));
        System.out.println(middle(3, 2, 3));
    }

    public static int middle(int a, int b, int c) {
        if ((b <= a && a <= c) || (c <= a && a <= b)) {
            return a;
        } else if ((a <= b && b <= c) || (c <= b && b <= a)) {
            return b;
        } else {
            return c;
        }
    }
}

Answer:

1. Fix for parsing error: Add a closing } at the end of the file to properly close the middle method, and confirm the main method is enclosed with its own {} (line 9 closes the main method correctly in the corrected code).
2. Fix for logical redundancy: Rewrite the else if condition for b to use non-redundant logic: (a <= b && b <= c) || (c <= b && b <= a) (the original condition repeated (b <= a && b >= c) which was unnecessary).
3. Output of corrected code:

    2
    2
    3