AP Computer Science A:

Using the Math Class

This Lesson Will Cover:

● The Math Class

● Calling static methods
● Math class methods
● Math.random
 Recap: Instance Methods

Instance (non-static) methods need to be called with an

object of the class as a receiver.

/*rectangle is an instance of the Rectangle class

and getArea() is an instance method */

rectangle.getArea();

Instance methods can also be

called non-static methods.
Class Methods

What if you want to use a method without

creating an instance?
Static Methods

Static methods are the methods in Java that can

be called without creating an object of a class.
They are referenced by the class name itself.
 Creating static methods

Instance method:

public int getWidth()

When a method is declared
with the static keyword, it is
known as static method.
Static method:

public static void rectEquations()

 Creating static methods

Static method:

public static void rectEquations()

{

System.out.println(“The formula for area is: L * W”);

System.out.println(“The formula for perimeter is: 2(L + W)”);

}
 Creating static methods

Now that method public static void rectEquations()

exists, we can call it using the name of the class it belongs
to:

The formula for area is: L * W

Rectangle.rectEquations();
The formula for perimeter is: 2(L + W)
Math class

One class that exclusively contains static methods

is the Math class
The Math Class

The java.lang.Math class contains static

methods for performing basic numeric operations
such as the elementary exponential, logarithm,
square root, and trigonometric functions.
java.lang package: Math Class

Object

Math Number String System

Double Integer
Static Methods Don’t Need an Instance!

int x = Math.abs(-5);

This is the Math class name, not the

name of an object.
 Static Methods Don’t Need an Instance!

To call this method we did NOT need to create an instance

of the object. This would be a tedious process every time we
wanted to use the Math class...

Math m = new Math();

int n = m.abs(-5);

System.out.println(n);
 Static Methods Don’t Need an Instance!

To call this method we did NOT need to create an instance

of the object. This would be a tedious process every time we
wanted to use the Math class...

Math m = new Math();

int n = m.abs(-5);

System.out.println(n);
Math class Methods

Math Class Methods

Method Use

Math.abs(x) Returns the absolute value of x.

Math.pow(base, exponent) Returns the value of base raised to the

power of exponent.

Math.sqrt(x) Returns the positive square root of x.

Math.random() Returns a double value greater than or

equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0
Math class Methods

Math Class Methods

Method Use

Math.abs(x) Returns the absolute value of x.

Math.pow(base, exponent) Returns the value of base raised to the

power of exponent.

Math.sqrt(x) Returns the positive square root of x.

Math.random() Returns a double value greater than or

equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0
Absolute Value

Math.abs returns the absolute value

of the input value.
The Math.abs method
has a constructor for both
int x = Math.abs(-5); double and int values!

double y = Math.abs(-10.3);

System.out.println(“Absolute value of -5:” + x);

Absolute value of -5: 5

Math class Methods

Math Class Methods

Method Use

Math.abs(x) Returns the absolute value of x.

Math.pow(base, exponent) Returns the value of base raised to the

power of exponent.

Math.sqrt(x) Returns the positive square root of x.

Math.random() Returns a double value greater than or

equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0
Raising to a Power

double pow(double base, double exponent) returns the

value of the first parameter raised to the power of the
second parameter.

double cubed = Math.pow(2, 3);

System.out.println(“2^3 = ” + cubed); 2^3 = 8

Math class Methods

Math Class Methods

Method Use

Math.abs(x) Returns the absolute value of x.

Math.pow(base, exponent) Returns the value of base raised to the

power of exponent.

Math.sqrt(x) Returns the positive square root of x.

Math.random() Returns a double value greater than or

equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0
 Square Roots

double sqrt(double x) returns the positive square root of

a double value

double squareRoot = Math.sqrt(255.5);

System.out.println(squareRoot); 15.9843673631
Math class Methods

Math Class Methods

Method Use

Math.abs(x) Returns the absolute value of x.

Math.pow(base, exponent) Returns the value of base raised to the

power of exponent.

Math.sqrt(x) Returns the positive square root of x.

Math.random() Returns a double value greater than or

equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0
 Generating Random Numbers

double random() returns a double value greater than or

equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0. The random method does
NOT take any parameters.

Generates a different number

every time Math.random is
double rand = Math.random(); executed.

System.out.println("Random Number:" + rand);

Random Number: 0.5349702067386971

Manipulating Math.random()

What if we don’t want random numbers

generated from 0.0 - 1.0, but instead from 0-9?
Random Numbers in a Defined Range

Generate a random number between 0 and 9:

int rand = (int)(Math.random() * 10);

Random Numbers in a Defined Range

Generate a random number between 0 and 9:

int rand = (int)(Math.random() * 10);

Generates a number between

0.0 and 1.0:
0.5349702067386971
Random Numbers in a Defined Range

Generate a random number between 0 and 9:

int rand = (int)(Math.random() * 10);

Multiplies random number by

10:
5.349702067386971
Random Numbers in a Defined Range

Generate a random number between 0 and 9:

int rand = (int)(Math.random() * 10);

Removes decimals from the

numerical value:
5
Random Numbers in a Defined Range

Generate a random number between 0 and 9:

int rand = (int)(Math.random() * 10);

Call to Math.random() Multiply by 10 Cast to int

0.2396070187920506 2.396070187920506 2

0.0076898059369292 0.076898059369292 0

0.1138854030030303 1.138854030030303 1

0.7881929515623757 7.881929515623757 7

0.9995677392929999 9.995677392929999 9
Creating Random Range

The general formula for generating any range from 0 -

integer is:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (integer + 1))

Creating Random Range

The general formula for generating any range from 0 -

integer is:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (integer + 1))

Creates number from 0 - .99...

Creating Random Range

The general formula for generating any range from 0 -

integer is:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (integer + 1))

Turns initial random number to a

number from 0 - integer.99
Creating Random Range

The general formula for generating any range from 0 -

integer is:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (integer + 1))

Math.random() = 0 - (almost)1 , so if we multiply by integer, the

random number range increases to become 0 - (almost)integer.

To include the value integer in the range, we need to add

one, so the range becomes 0 - integer(and some change).
Creating Random Range

The general formula for generating any range from 0 -

integer is:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (integer + 1))

Removes decimal value of

number from 0 - integer.99..
Creating Random Range

The formula for generating any range from 0 - 5 is:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (5 + 1))

0-5 0 - .99.. 0 - 5.99..

 Creating Random Range

If we wanted to change the range from 0-5 to 5-10, we can

add 5 to the end of the equation:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (5 + 1) + 5)

0 - .99.. 0 - 5.99.. 5 - 10.99..

5 - 10
Creating Random Range

The general formula for generating any range from (start

to start + range) is:

int randInteger = (int)(Math.random() * (range + 1) + start);

 The Math Class Documentation

We have additional
documentation for the
Math class in the
CodeHS code editor!
Now It’s Your Turn!
Concepts Learned this Lesson

Term Definition
Static Methods Static methods are the methods in Java that can be called
without creating an object of class. Static methods are called
using the dot operator along with the class name unless they
are defined in the enclosing class.

Math Class The Math class is part of the java.lang package and contains
only static methods.

int abs(int x) Returns the absolute value of an int value

double abs(double x) Returns the absolute value of a double value

double pow(double base, double exponent) Returns the value of the first parameter raised to the power of
the second parameter

double sqrt(double x) Returns the positive square root of a double value

double random() Returns a double value greater than or equal to 0.0 and less
than 1.0

Math.random Can be manipulated to produce a random int or double in a

defined range.
 Standards Covered

● (LO) MOD-1.H Call static methods.

● (EK) MOD-1.H.1 Static methods are called using the dot operator along with the class name unless
they are defined in the enclosing class.

● (LO) CON-1.D Evaluate expressions that use the Math class methods.

● (EK) CON-1.D.1 The Math class is part of the java.lang package.

● (EK) CON-1.D.2 The Math class contains only static methods.

● (EK) CON-1.D.3 The following static Math methods—including what they do and when they are
used—are part of the Java Quick Reference:
○ int abs(int x) — Returns the absolute value of an int value
○ double abs(double x) — Returns the absolute value of a double value
○ double pow(double base, double exponent) — Returns the value of the first parameter
raised to the power of the second parameter
○ double sqrt(double x) — Returns the positive square root of a double value
○ double random() — Returns a double value greater than or equal to 0.0 and less than 1.0
● (EK) CON-1.D.4 The values returned from Math.random can be manipulated to produce a random
int or double in a defined range.