javaLogic errorMedium

Unexpected null return instead of expected exception

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BugFind the bug and fix the code

What it should do

Divide two integers and return the result. Example: divide(10, 2) -> 5

What happens instead

The function unexpectedly returns null instead of throwing an exception when dividing by zero.

public class Calculator {
    public static int divide(int a, int b) {
        try {
            if (b == 0) {
                throw new ArithmeticException("Cannot divide by zero");
            }
            return a / b;
        } catch (ArithmeticException e) {
            System.out.println(e.getMessage());
        } finally {
            return 0;
        }
    }
}

Test a custom input to verify an edge case (e.g. empty lists, negative numbers, duplicates).

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This bug belongs to the logic errors pattern

The wrong operator, an inverted condition, a formula the right way round but backwards.

Learn the logic errors pattern Step through your own code

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public class Calculator { public static int divide(int a, int b) { try { if (b == 0) { throw new ArithmeticException("Cannot divide by zero"); } return a / b; } catch (ArithmeticException e) { System.out.println(e.getMessage()); } finally { return 0; } } }

Unexpected null return instead of expected exception

What it should do

What happens instead

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Unexpected null return instead of expected exception

What it should do

What happens instead

More logic errors to practise