Question

Examine the following program. / / Thie program uaea variable* and literals, public claaa BigLittle I public atati c void m*in(String!| arga) int little ; int big; littl . - 2; big - 2000; Syatem.out.println(-Th* littl * numb*r ia " + littl*)J System.out.println("The big number is " • big); ) ) List the variables and literals found in the program.

Short answer

Answer: The variables in the given Java code snippet are "little" and "big," which are integer types (int) and located in the main method. The literals are the constant values assigned to the variables; "little" is assigned the value 2, and "big" is assigned the value 2000.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the variables in the program

From the given code snippet, the variables that can be found are "little" and "big." These variables are declared as integer types (int) and are initialized with specific values. The variables are located in the main method, which is the starting point of the program's execution.

Identify the literals in the program

The literals in this code snippet are the constant values assigned to the variables. Here are the literals found in the code snippet: - The "little" variable is assigned the value 2. - The "big" variable is assigned the value 2000. These literals are found in the lines where the variables "little" and "big" are initialized. In summary, the variables found in the code snippet are "little" and "big," and the literals are the values 2 and 2000 assigned to these respective variables.

Key concepts

Literals

Literals are a vital part of programming in Java. They represent fixed values that cannot be changed during the execution of a program. In the provided code snippet, literals are the constant values assigned directly to variables. For example, when you see an integer like 2 or 2000 in the code, these are integer literals. They directly define data without using any computation.

Understanding literals in Java is crucial because:

• They help in initializing variables with known values.
• They make the code readable by showing direct values associated with variables.
• They work seamlessly without quotes or additional symbols for types like integers or decimals.

When you assign a literal to a variable, you are telling the computer exactly what value that variable should hold.

Integer Data Type

The integer data type in Java is a fundamental concept. It represents whole numbers without any decimal component. This is perfect for quantities like counts, indices, or any number that doesn't need fractional values. In Java, the int keyword is used to declare variables of integer type.

Here's why integers are widely used:

• They consume less memory compared to floating-point numbers.
• Arithmetic operations on integers are typically faster and simpler.
• They provide a specific range (usually \(-2^{31}\) to \(2^{31} - 1\)) that fits many use cases.

The variables with this type in the exercise are "little" and "big." They store the literal values 2 and 2000, respectively.
By declaring these variables as integers, the program can efficiently manage numeric data and perform integer-based operations.

Main Method

The main method is the entry point for any standalone Java program. It is a core concept that controls the flow of program execution. Defined as\[public\ static\ void\ main(String[]\ args) \]the main method consists of three parts:

• Access modifier: public, allows other classes to access the main method.
• Static keyword: Running the method without needing an instantiation of the class.
• Return type: void, indicates no return value is expected.

Understanding the main method is crucial for launching applications. When you run a Java application, the Java Runtime Environment seeks this method to start executing the program.
This is why placing your variable declarations within this method enables them to be used during the program's execution. It's essential for ensuring that your program operates as intended.

Program Execution

Program execution is the process where the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) starts interpreting the compiled bytecode to perform the instructions written in the source code.

In the context of this exercise:

• The program begins its execution at the main method.
• The variables "little" and "big" are initialized with the respective literals, 2 and 2000.
• The System.out.println statements are executed to print the output to the console.

The execution flow goes line by line within the main method. This approach is systematic, ensuring that each instruction is processed in the order it was written. It demonstrates how variables are assigned values and how those values are used in computations or output processes.
Through understanding program execution, programmers can effectively track the flow and identify any issues that might occur during runtime.