BigNumbers

• ints only have a limited storage capacity, and floats and doubles are not 100% precise.  There has to be an alternative!
• There is, but it is slower.  BigInteger stores large numbers, BigDecimal accurately stores numbers with decimals.
• But there are drawbacks:
• Computations are somewhat slower.
• You cannot use normal operators.
• To declare a BigInteger:
• BigInteger myDesiredSalary = BigInteger.valueOf(10000000000000);
• BigInteger myDesiredSalary = new BigInteger("100000000000");
• The declarations are similar for BigDecimals.
• To add two BigIntegers:
• BigInteger newSalary = myDesiredSalary.add(new BigInteger("1000000000"));
• Multiplication, division, and subtraction can be performed with multiply(BigInteger a); divide(BigInteger a); and subtract(BigInteger a); respectively.
• Again, BigDecimal is similar.
• Look like a lot of work?
• Yes, but wait until you have an integer overflow error, or totals that are off by a cent!  It will drive you nuts.  I speak from experience here!
 Lab Time
 
 

Created by:  Brandan Jones January 4, 2002