CIS 210 Problem 1.3

Problem 1.3

Last updated 2007/08/28 13:54:31

Problem 1.3 - Metric Conversion

In this program, you will write some code to convert a distance measurement in inches, feet, or miles to a metric equivalent. Since this is the first assignment and we have not covered much material yet, the program will be small and simple. Unlike the previous program, you are not provided with any code, but must start from scratch.

However, here's a hint about programming: all programs have some common aspects. It may save some typing and debugging to start with an existing, working program. Delete the irrelevant parts, change code that is close to what you need, and add new code. For this problem, after you read the requirements, you may feel that some of the previous programming problem would work here. At the very least, the header of the main method will be the same since it is the same in all Java programs.

Requirements

The conversion program should:

Prompt the user for a number. (See the example input/output below for the exact form of the prompt.)
Output the equivalent metric values for the following conversions of the number:
1. inches to centimeters
2. feet to meters
3. miles to kilometers
(See the example input/output below for the exact form of the output.)

Examples

Your program should be called Metric. If we executed the program from a command prompt:

C:> java Metric
Enter a linear value to convert to metric: 1
1.0 inches is 2.54 centimeters
1.0 feet is 0.3048 meters
1.0 miles is 1.609344 kilometers

Here is another example:

Enter a linear value to convert to metric: 7.5
7.5 inches is 19.05 centimeters
7.5 feet is 2.286 meters
7.5 miles is 12.07008 kilometers

(The text in italics is what you type as input when prompted.)

Things to note

Either whole numbers or decimals may be given as input. (Hint: the integers are a subset of the real numbers, and Java effectively emulates this fact.)
As the example shows, one inch is 2.54 centimeters. Other useful facts are: there are 12 inches in a foot, 5280 feet in a mile, and of course a centimeter is one hundredth of a meter, and a kilometer is a thousand meters.

Coding Restrictions

All of your code should be in the main method.
Use the Scanner class for input.
Use only the operators and types of chapter 2.
Define appropriate constant values for ratios, such as CM_PER_INCH = 2.54.

What to turn in

Turn in your code for Metric.java.