Can't compile, help please!

Question

compiler says that I haven't initialized one of the variables, but I have it entered as an integer, why won't it compile?
public class hwk5 extends JApplet {
          public void init () {
          double weight, shippingCost, rate;
          int mile, mileRate;
          String weightString, mileString;
weightString = JOptionPane.showInputDialog
          ("Enter how many pound(s) is your package weight");
     weight = Double.parseDouble(weightString);
          mileString = JOptionPane.showInputDialog
          ("Enter the total destination mile");
     mile = Integer.parseInt(mileString);
          mileRate = mile / 500;
          shippingCost = mileRate * rate;
hwk5.java:43: variable rate might not have been initialized
                    shippingCost = mileRate * rate;
^

Answer 1

The compiler is complaining about the fact that you haven't initialized
the 'rate' variable anywhere in your code.
kind regards,
Jos