if(string.startsWith("0")) {
			boolean proceed = true;
			int i = 0;
			try {
				while(proceed) {
					if(!(string.substring(i, i+1).equals("0")))
						break;
					i++; 
				}
			} catch(StringIndexOutOfBoundsException sioobe) {
				System.out.println("This is no valid number");
				System.exit(1);
			}
			leadingZeroes = i;
		} else {
			leadingZeroes = 0;
		}