if (  cash >= price )

Reverse Logic

Here is what happens for one run of the program:

How much do you have, in pennies?
5000
You can buy the sweater

The true block was executed because the boolean expression was true. Here is another run of the program:

How much do you have, in pennies?
2000
You can't buy the sweater
You need $24.95 more.

The false block executed because the boolean expression was false.

Boolean expressions are always true or false. By using the correct relational operator (==, >, <, >=, <=, != ) you ask a question that is true when you want the true branch to be executed. The true branch is not necessarily the "good choice." If the statements inside of the two branches are switched you will have to change the relational operator for the program to do the same thing as before.

Here is the program again, with the statements of the true and false branches switched.

import java.io.*;
class SweaterPurchase
{
  public static void main (String[] args) throws IOException
  { 
    final int price = 4495;    // price in cents

    BufferedReader stdin = 
        new BufferedReader ( new InputStreamReader( System.in ) );
 
    String inData;
    int    cash;                       

    System.out.println("How much do you have, in pennies?");
    inData = stdin.readLine();
    cash   = Integer.parseInt( inData );     
    
    if (  __________________ )
    {
      System.out.println("You can't buy the sweater" );
      System.out.println("You need $" + 
        (price-cash)/100 + "." + (price-cash)%100 + " more." );
    }
    else
      System.out.println("You can buy the sweater" );

  }
}