How can i pass the values to method public static void showBoard(boolean[][

Question

I need x and y to pass to the method
public static void showBoard(boolean[][] board
i am very confused as to why its boolean,i know its an array but does that mean values ar true or false only?Thanks
import java.util.Random;
import java.util.Scanner;
public class Life1
     public static void main(String[] args)
          int x=0;
          int y=0;
          Scanner keyIn = new Scanner(System.in);
          System.out.println("Enter the first dimension of the board : ");
          x = keyIn.nextInt();
          System.out.println("Enter the second dimension of the board : );
          y = keyIn.nextInt();
          boolean[][] board = new boolean[x][y];
          fillBoard(board);
          showBoard(board);
          //Ask the user how many generations to show.
          board = newBoard(board);
          showBoard(board);
     //This method randomly populates rows 5-9 of the board
     //Rewrite this method to allow the user to populate the board by entering the
     //coordinates of the live cells.  If the user requests that cell 1, 1 be alive,
     //your program should make cell 0,0 alive.
     public static void fillBoard(boolean[][] board)
          int row, col, isAlive;
          Random picker = new Random();
          for(row = 4; row < 9; row++)
               for(col = 4; col < 9; col++)
                    if (picker.nextInt(2) == 0)
                      board[row][col] = false;
                    else
                      board[row][col] = true;
     //This method displays the board
     public static void showBoard(boolean[][] board)
          int row, col;
          System.out.println();
          for(row=0; row < x; row++)
               for(col=0; col<y; col++)
                    if (board[row][col])
                         System.out.print("X");
                    else
                         System.out.print(".");
               System.out.println();
          System.out.println();
     //This method creates the next generation and returns the new population
     public static boolean[][] newBoard(boolean[][] board)
          int row;
          int col;
          int neighbors;
          boolean[][] newBoard = new boolean[board.length][board[0].length];
          makeDead(newBoard);
          for(row = 1; row < board.length-1; row++)
               for(col = 1; col < board[row].length-1; col++)
                    neighbors = countNeighbors(row, col, board);
                    //make this work with one less if
                    if (neighbors < 2)
                         newBoard[row][col]=false;
                    else if (neighbors > 3)
                         newBoard[row][col] = false;
                    else if (neighbors == 2)
                         newBoard[row][col]= board[row][col];
                    else
                         newBoard[row][col] = true;
          return newBoard;
     //This method counts the number of neighbors surrounding a cell.
     //It is given the current cell coordinates and the board
     public static int countNeighbors(int thisRow, int thisCol, boolean[][] board)
          int count = 0;
          int row, col;
          for (row = thisRow - 1; row < thisRow + 2; row++)
               for(col = thisCol - 1; col < thisCol + 2; col++)
                 if (board[row][col])
                      count++;
          if (board[thisRow][thisCol])
               count--;
          return count;
     //This method makes each cell in a board "dead."
     public static void makeDead(boolean[][] board)
          int row, col;
          for(row = 0; row < board.length; row++)
               for(col = 0; col < board[row].length; col++)
                    board[row][col] = false;
}

Answer 1

this is what im workin with mabey you can point me in the right directionimport java.util.Random;
/* This class creates an application to simulate John Conway's Life game.
* Output is sent to the System.out object.
* The rules for the Life game are as follows...
* Your final version of the program should explain the game and its use
* to the user.
public class Life
     public static void main(String[] args)
          //Allow the user to specify the board size
          boolean[][] board = new boolean[10][10];
          fillBoard(board);
          showBoard(board);
          //Ask the user how many generations to show.
          board = newBoard(board);
          showBoard(board);
     //This method randomly populates rows 5-9 of the board
     //Rewrite this method to allow the user to populate the board by entering the
     //coordinates of the live cells.  If the user requests that cell 1, 1 be alive,
     //your program should make cell 0,0 alive.
     public static void fillBoard(boolean[][] board)
          int row, col, isAlive;
          Random picker = new Random();
          for(row = 4; row < 9; row++)
               for(col = 4; col < 9; col++)
                    if (picker.nextInt(2) == 0)
                      board[row][col] = false;
                    else
                      board[row][col] = true;
     //This method displays the board
     public static void showBoard(boolean[][] board)
          int row, col;
          System.out.println();
          for(row=0; row < 10; row++)
               for(col=0; col<10; col++)
                    if (board[row][col])
                         System.out.print("X");
                    else
                         System.out.print(".");
               System.out.println();
          System.out.println();
     //This method creates the next generation and returns the new population
     public static boolean[][] newBoard(boolean[][] board)
          int row;
          int col;
          int neighbors;
          boolean[][] newBoard = new boolean[board.length][board[0].length];
          makeDead(newBoard);
          for(row = 1; row < board.length-1; row++)
               for(col = 1; col < board[row].length-1; col++)
                    neighbors = countNeighbors(row, col, board);
                    //make this work with one less if
                    if (neighbors < 2)
                         newBoard[row][col]=false;
                    else if (neighbors > 3)
                         newBoard[row][col] = false;
                    else if (neighbors == 2)
                         newBoard[row][col]= board[row][col];
                    else
                         newBoard[row][col] = true;
          return newBoard;
     //This method counts the number of neighbors surrounding a cell.
     //It is given the current cell coordinates and the board
     public static int countNeighbors(int thisRow, int thisCol, boolean[][] board)
          int count = 0;
          int row, col;
          for (row = thisRow - 1; row < thisRow + 2; row++)
               for(col = thisCol - 1; col < thisCol + 2; col++)
                 if (board[row][col])
                      count++;
          if (board[thisRow][thisCol])
               count--;
          return count;
     //This method makes each cell in a board "dead."
     public static void makeDead(boolean[][] board)
          int row, col;
          for(row = 0; row < board.length; row++)
               for(col = 0; col < board[row].length; col++)
                    board[row][col] = false;
}