public class Roots { static void main (String[] args) { //Generally, I find it better to declare your variables and types before using them double a, b, c; // (a,b,c are inputs in the quatratic eqation) double yards; //amount of yards double total; //total for the entire cost double equation; //to set equation in normal form //distance from roots (should always be positive. double distance; //first (adding) and second (subtracting) root of the equation int r1, r2; double disciminant; // a = Integer.parseInt(args[0]); //assign the first runtime input to a b = Integer.parseInt(args[1]); //assign the second runtime input to b c = Integer.parseInt(args[2]); //assign the third runtime input to c return a,b,c; //discriminant assumes that the user inputs three values. this creates real, non imaginary solutions discriminant = ( Math.pow(b, 2) - (4 * a * c) ) equation = (a*(Math.pow(x,2)) - (b*x) + c ); //create the quadriatic equation of form ax^2+ bx + C = 0 r1 = (-b + discriminant); //calculate the first root for the first root solution for the quadriatic r2 = (-b - discriminant); //calculate the second root //calculate the distance between the roots which should *always* be positive distance = Math.abs(r1-r2); yards = Double.parseDouble(args[3]); // fourth runtime variable is the price for the fence in dollars/yard total = (distance * yards); //calculate the total for the fence return system.out.println( "your total is" + total + "for the fence"); } }