cla
    ss example
{

  public static void main ( String[] args )
  {
    long   hoursWorked = 40;    
    double payRate     = 10.0, taxRate = 0.10;    

    System.out.println("Hours 
        Worked: " + hoursWorked );

    System.out.println("pay Amount  : " + (hours
        Worked * payRate) );

    System.out.println("tax Amount  : " + (
        hoursWorked * payRate * taxRate) );
  }

Assignment Statements

So far, we have been using the value initially put into a variable, but not changing the value that a variable holds. Of course, variables are expected to vary by having new values placed into them as the program runs. An assignment statement changes the value that is held in a variable. Here is a program that uses an asignment statement:

class example3
{
  public static void main ( String[] args )
  {
    long payAmount ;  //a declaration without an initial value

    payAmount = 123;  //an assignment statement
    System.out.println("The variable contains: " + payAmount );
  }
}

The assignment statement puts the value 123 into the variable. In other words, while the program is executing (on the Java pseudocomputer) there will be a 64 bit block of memory that gets the value 123.

Remember that the word "execute" is usually used for "run." One speaks of "executing a program" or "executing" a line of the program.