Question

/* You are driving a little too fast, and a police officer stops you. Write

* code to compute the result, encoded as an int value: 0=no ticket, 1=small
* ticket, 2=big ticket. If speed is 60 or less, the result is 0. If speed is
* between 61 and 80 inclusive, the result is 1. If speed is 81 or more, the
* result is 2. Unless it is your birthday -- on that day, your speed can be
* 5 higher in all cases.
*/
public int caughtSpeeding(int speed, boolean isBirthday) {
if(isBirthday) {
if(speed <= 65) {
return 0;
} else if(66 <= speed && speed <= 85) {
return 1;
} else if(86 <= speed) {
return 2;
}
}

if(speed <= 60) {
return 0;
} else if(61 <= speed && speed <= 80) {
return 1;
} else {
return 2;
}
}

Answer 1

The Java function provided helps determine traffic violation penalties based on speed and considers a birthday allowance. This contrasts with real-world scenarios where some leniency exists for minor speedometer inaccuracies, and actual driving behavior can vary, affecting speed estimates. Skid marks can also be used as physical evidence of speeding in traffic cases.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding the Code for Speed Limit Violations

The subject question revolves around determining the consequences of driving too fast given a particular speed and whether it is the driver's birthday. The provided Java function evaluates the situation and returns an integer that signifies whether the driver gets a 'no ticket', a 'small ticket', or a 'big ticket'.

Without special occasions, speeds of 60 or less result in no ticket (return 0), speeds between 61 to 80 result in a small ticket (return 1), and speeds of 81 or more result in a big ticket (return 2). If it's the driver's birthday, a leeway of 5 mph is allowed across all speed ranges.

When it comes to real-world driving, it's important to understand that a certain amount of leeway is often applied when enforcing speed regulations due to potential inaccuracies in speedometer readings. Nevertheless, significantly exceeding the speed limit likely leads to a traffic ticket.

For instance, driving at a speed just slightly above the limit, such as 31 mph in a 30 mph zone like in Jacinto City, Texas, might not warrant a ticket immediately, but further exceeding the limit could.

In a different context, particularly in mathematical or physics problems, assumptions about constant driving speeds may not always reflect real-world scenarios where drivers might vary their speed.

Lastly, if you leave significant skid marks due to rapid deceleration, like the 100-feet mark mentioned, law enforcement may deduce excessive speed and issue a ticket based on physical evidence.