Question using compareTo ...

Question

Alright I have a general question on using the compareTo method...
I was to add two different polynomial terms together, but in order to do this I need to compare the degrees of both degree inputs together. If they are the same I combine the coefficients...
I am wondering how I go about using the compareTo method to do such a thing. The following is the code I have so far on the program. I DON'T want an answer! Really I just want to know if I am on the right track. Also notice the what I have commented out. It's lengthy, and I'm unsure if that is the right way to go about it.... thanks for the help!
import java.util.*;
import java.lang.*;
public class PolyTest
public static void main(String[] args)
     Scanner stdin = new Scanner(System.in);
     Polynomial test = new Polynomial();
Polynomial polynomial1 = new Polynomial();
System.out.println("Enter degree of the first polynomial");
int degree1 = stdin.nextInt();
          for(int i = degree1; i > -1; i--)
     System.out.println("Enter a coefficient for x^ " + i);
     int coefficient1 = stdin.nextInt();
     if (coefficient1 != 0)
     polynomial1.addTerm(coefficient1, i);
     while(i == 0)
System.out.println("The first polynomial is " + polynomial1);
          break;
          Polynomial polynomial2 = new Polynomial();
          System.out.println("Enter degree of the second polynomial");
int degree2 = stdin.nextInt();
          for(int i = degree2; i > -1; i--)
     System.out.println("Enter a coefficient for x^ " + i);
     int coefficient2 = stdin.nextInt();
     if (coefficient2 != 0)
     polynomial2.addTerm(coefficient2, i);
     while(i == 0)
System.out.println("The second polynomial is " + polynomial2);
          break;
          // System.out.println("The sum of the two polynomials is " + test.comparePoly(degree1, degree2, coefficient1, coefficient2));
class Polynomial
private LinkedList<Term> terms;
public Polynomial()
terms = new LinkedList<Term>();
public void addTerm( int c, int d)
terms.add(new Term(c, d));
public String toString()
String s = "";
for(int i = 0; i < terms.size(); i++)
s += terms.get(i);
if(i < terms.size()-1)
s += " + ";
return s;
class Term implements Comparable
private int coeff;
private int degree;
String variable = "x";
public Term(int c, int d)
coeff = c;
degree = d;
public int compareTo(Object obj)
Term temp = (Term) obj;
     int diff = degree - temp.degree;
     return diff;
/* public String comparePoly(int de1, int de2, int co1, int co2)
int x = de1.compareTo(de2);
int y = 0;
String str = String.valueOf();
          if (x == 0)
          y = co1 + co2;
               if (de1 == 1 || de2 == 1)
               str += y + variable;
               else if (de1 == 0 || de2 == 0)
          str += "";
               str += y + variable + "^" + de1;
          else if (x < 0)
          if (de1 == 1 || de2 == 1)
               str += y + variable;
               else if (de1 == 0 || de2 == 0)
          str += "";
               str += co2 + variable + "^" + de2 + " + " + co1 + variable + "^" + de1;
          else
          if (de1 == 1 || de2 == 1)
               str += y + variable;
               else if (de1 == 0 || de2 == 0)
          str += "";
          str += co1 + variable + "^" + de1 + " + " + co2 + variable + "^" + de2;
          return str;
public String toString()
String s = String.valueOf(coeff);
          if (degree == 0)
          s += "";
          else
          if (degree == 1)
          s += variable;
          else
          s += variable + "^" + degree;
return s;
}

Answer 1

Are you in the same class with this guy?
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=667690
As for whether you're on the right track, I don't know, because I don't know what comparePoly is supposed to do or how you're supposed to use compareTo, and because your code isn't formatted. (When you post code, please use [code] and [/code] tags as described in Formatting tips on the message entry page. It makes it much easier to read)
But then, you can find out for yourself if you're on the right track. If your code does what it's supposed to do, or close to it, for a test case or two, then yeah, you're on the right track.