Last modified: December 13, 2025

Topics

Preparation for Final Exam

• Java programming language
  • Java is architecture neutral (lec. 2)
  • Compiling and execution process (lec. 2)
    • Use javac to compile a source code to bytecode; if syntax error, no bytecode is produced
    • Use java to interpret byte code
• Primitive data types
  • Primitive data types (byte/short/int/long, float/double, char, boolean) [byte/short/int/long/float/double in lec. 2; boolean in lec. 6; char in lec. 3]
  • Arithmetic/Boolean expressions [lec. 3 on basic operators such as +, -, * , /, %; lec. 4 on assignment operators; PS5 Cashier on using %; lec. 6/7 on Boolean operators; lec. 4/5 on char operators]
    • Operator precedence
  • Data conversions (automatic promotion, cast) [lec. 4; lec. 7 on char/int conversion]
• Variables
  • Variable scope; class-scope variables [lec. 4; lec. 6; PS4 Animation program structures]
  • Constants
  • Assignment operators
  • Value semantics of primitive variables
• Flow of control
  • Boolean expressions (||, !, &&, == vs =); Boolean variables; Boolean Zen [lec. 6/7]
  • Conditional statements, if/else, nested if/else (e.g., Grading curve [lec. 7])
  • Three loop statements: for, while, do/while
  • Common loop patterns:
    • for loops, in particular, mapping from loop variable to pattern (e.g., DrawRocket)
    • Cumulative loops (MonteCarloPi, Letter/Grade Histogram)
    • Search and file processing loops [lec. 9]
• Methods
  • Why methods
  • Method definition, in particular overloading, and invocation
  • Method parameter passing
  • Method variable scope
  • Using method with checked exception, also declares throws or use try/catch
• Arrays
  • Declaration and instantiation of arrays with a list (e.g., month to month name Final Example)
  • Basic usage of arrays: as parameters of methods, array elements as counters
• Uses predefined Java classes
  • What is package and why import?
  • Graphics: StdDraw methods (what is and how to set the setX/Yscale, line, rectangle, text), basic idea of animations (what is double buffer, what does show do)
  • Text input: Scanner, nextInt, nextDouble, hasNext, hasNextInt, ...; Integer.parseInt, Double.parseDouble; what is redirect? How to use Scanner with System.in, with a File, or with a String.
  • Text output: print, println, printf, format
  • Text processing: common methods such as print, println, printf, format, equals, equals vs ==, substring, indexOf,
  • Basic Math methods: round (what does it return; why need (int) to cast Math.round(1.0)), random (what does it return)

Some FAQs

We update here for common questions that we receive on Final Exam. Please reload/refresh to make sure that you have the newest copy. Please let us know your questions.

• Topics to be covered
  • Q: Should we become familiar with making graphics and animation?
    A: If you feel comfortable with PSets in graphics, you have all that we need to prepare for the exam.
    
    
• General
  • Q: Do you have any suggestions on preparing for the Final Exam?
    A: If you feel comfortable with all of the assignments up to PS6, you should do well. The practice questions at the end of each chapter can be helpful. The https://horstmann.com/codecheck/index.html site appears to be quite helpful as well.
  • Q: What is the distribution of question types for this exam?
    A: The exam consists of four main sections:
    • Short Answer: 6 questions, totaling 50 points.
    • Writing Methods: 2 questions, totaling 20 points.
    • Program Reading: 5 questions, totaling 30 points.
    • Bonus: Two options (choose one), worth 10 points.
  • Q: What is the format of the exam?
    A: Written exam.