Exam on Monday -- pl help

[padmini Babu]

public float parseFloat( String s )
{
float f = 0.0f; // 1
try
{
f = Float.valueOf( s ).floatValue(); // 2
return f ; // 3
}
catch(NumberFormatException nfe)
{
f = Float.NaN ; // 4
return f; // 5
}
finally {
return f; // 6
}
return f ; // 7
}
options:
Remove line 3,6
Remove line 3,7
Remove line 7
Remove line 5,6
prob: All these options are corrr.
But anyshorts to know which one would be right. Becuse in the exam we wouldn't have time to check and code each one of them.
Thanks padmini

[Mikael Jonasson]

Can't say that I understod your question correctly. Is there a question involved.
If the question is: which line can be removed and still get the same reult, then yes all of those examples are correct.
Explained:
1. both 3 and 6 can be removed since there is a return at the end of the method. Since all returns are alike, only the one at the end is needed.
2. both 3 and 7. Since this leaves the return in the finally-block, a return will always be made. Actually you could remove line 5 too.
3. Line 7. Since The finally-block contains a return, this line will never be reached anyway.
4. 5 and 6 Given that there is a return at the end of the method, the returns leading up to it could be removed.
To be blunt, all you need is a return at lone 6 OR a return at line 7 OR a return at both line 3 & 5.
/Mike

[Scott Appleton]

I recognize this question. The code won't compile because line 7 is unreachable, and the question is "removing which line(s) will allow this code to compile?" (or something like that).
The basic problem is that either line 6 or line 7 needs to be removed. If you have a return statement in a finally block, then any code following the finally block will never be executed, and is therefore unreachable, prompting a complaint from the compiler. Removing line 7 alone will resolve the problem.
You can, alternately, remove line 6. However, you would also then need to remove either line 3 or line 5 -- otherwise line 7 will remain unreachable because either line 3 or 5 will be executed 100% of the time.
There is no shortcut here, you just need to understand how return statements in try-catch-finally blocks may affect code following the block.