Hey everyone! I've decided to dive into learning Java after being encouraged by a friend working in software development. He suggested that I focus on a job type in the field and learn the most requested programming language for it, so here I am, tackling my Java course. However, I've hit a frustrating wall with a particular challenge.
The task is to write a method named `canPack` that takes three integer parameters: `bigCount` (the number of big flour bags, each 5 kilos), `smallCount` (the number of small flour bags, each 1 kilo), and `goal` (the total weight of flour needed). The method should return true if it's possible to reach the exact goal weight using the full bags. If the goal can't be met exactly, the method should return false. Importantly, if any of the parameters are negative, it should return false as well.
For example, if the goal is 9 kilos, having 2 big bags (10 kilos in total) and 0 small bags shouldn't work, but if I have 1 big bag and 4 small bags, it should return true since they add up to 9. After hours of trying to solve this, I'm still confused and would love some guidance to really understand how to tackle this challenge!
3 Answers
Many people feel stuck at this point, but you're definitely not alone! Just keep building your skills bit by bit, even if things feel messy. It will become clearer with time, so don't overthink it. Small projects can help develop your understanding!
You can tackle this by first using as many big bags as possible and then checking if the small bags make up the rest. Break it down step by step. For example, if your goal is 9, try 1 big bag and then see what the remaining goal is with the small bags. If you're struggling, try to visualize it with a few test numbers before jumping into the code!
You're right—this is more about algorithmic thinking than just coding in Java. Get away from the computer and try to solve it on paper first. See how many bags you would need for different scenarios without the programming part. Write down your calculations, and then the programming part will make more sense.
Recursion might feel like a lot, but it’s a useful approach if you want to explore that! You could take one bag and check if the rest can be made with what's left. Could get tricky at first, but hang in there!