Popcorn Hack #1: Transform Beginner Code

public class PopcornHack1 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int playerScore = 1000;
        int playerHealth = 100;
        int enemiesDefeated = 0;
        
        System.out.println("=== GAME START ===");
        System.out.println("Initial Score: " + playerScore);
        System.out.println("Initial Health: " + playerHealth);
        System.out.println("Enemies Defeated: " + enemiesDefeated);
        
        // Player defeats an enemy worth 250 points
        playerScore += 250;
        System.out.println("\nAfter defeating enemy:");
        System.out.println("Score: " + playerScore);
        
        // Player takes 15 damage
        playerHealth -= 15;
        System.out.println("\nAfter taking damage:");
        System.out.println("Health: " + playerHealth);
        
        // Enemy count goes up
        enemiesDefeated++;
        System.out.println("\nEnemies Defeated: " + enemiesDefeated);
        
        // Boss battle: double the current score!
        playerScore *= 2;
        System.out.println("\nAfter boss battle (score doubled):");
        System.out.println("Score: " + playerScore);
        
        // Healing potion restores health to 80% of current
        playerHealth *= 4;
        playerHealth /= 5;
        System.out.println("\nAfter healing potion (80% restoration):");
        System.out.println("Health: " + playerHealth);
        
        System.out.println("\n=== GAME STATE ===");
        System.out.println("Final Score: " + playerScore);
        System.out.println("Final Health: " + playerHealth);
        System.out.println("Total Enemies Defeated: " + enemiesDefeated);
    }
}
PopcornHack1.main(null);

=== GAME START ===
Initial Score: 1000
Initial Health: 100
Enemies Defeated: 0

After defeating enemy:
Score: 1250

After taking damage:
Health: 85

Enemies Defeated: 1

After boss battle (score doubled):
Score: 2500

After healing potion (80% restoration):
Health: 68

=== GAME STATE ===
Final Score: 2500
Final Health: 68
Total Enemies Defeated: 1

Popcorn Hack 2: Score Manipulation Program

public class PopcornHack2 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int score = 100;
        
        System.out.println("=== SCORE TRACKER ===");
        System.out.println("Starting score: " + score);
        
        // Deduct points for a wrong answer
        score -= 15;
        System.out.println("\nWrong answer penalty (-15 points)");
        System.out.println("Current score: " + score);
        
        // Double the score with a power-up
        score *= 2;
        System.out.println("\nPower-up activated! (Score doubled)");
        System.out.println("Current score: " + score);
        
        // Add bonus points
        score += 30;
        System.out.println("\nBonus points earned (+30 points)");
        System.out.println("Current score: " + score);
        
        // Find remainder after dividing by 7
        score %= 7;
        System.out.println("\nCalculating position in leaderboard (score % 7)");
        System.out.println("Position indicator: " + score);
        
        System.out.println("\n=== TRACKING COMPLETE ===");
    }
}
PopcornHack2.main(null);

=== SCORE TRACKER ===
Starting score: 100

Wrong answer penalty (-15 points)
Current score: 85

Power-up activated! (Score doubled)
Current score: 170

Bonus points earned (+30 points)
Current score: 200

Calculating position in leaderboard (score % 7)
Position indicator: 4

=== TRACKING COMPLETE ===

Homework Hack: Social Media Influencer Simulator

public class SocialMediaSimulator {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Initialize variables
        int followers = 500;
        int posts = 10;
        int engagement = 350;
        double sponsorshipEarnings = 0.0;
        int position = 1450;
        
        System.out.println("=== SOCIAL MEDIA SIMULATOR ===\n");
        System.out.println("Starting followers: " + followers);
        System.out.println("Starting posts: " + posts);
        System.out.println("Starting engagement: " + engagement + " likes\n");
        
        // Operation 1: Posted a viral video
        System.out.println("Posted a new video!");
        followers += 250;
        posts++;
        System.out.println("Followers: " + followers + " (+250 from the viral video)");
        System.out.println("Total posts: " + posts + "\n");
        
        // Operation 2: Controversial opinion posted
        System.out.println("Controversial opinion posted...");
        followers -= 50;
        System.out.println("Followers: " + followers + " (-50 from upset followers)\n");
        
        // Operation 3: Trending hashtag boost
        System.out.println("Trending hashtag boost!");
        followers *= 2;
        engagement *= 2;
        System.out.println("Followers: " + followers + " (doubled from trending!)");
        System.out.println("Engagement: " + engagement + " likes (doubled!)\n");
        
        // Operation 4: Calculate average engagement per post
        int avgEngagement = engagement / posts;
        System.out.println("Average engagement per post: " + avgEngagement + " likes\n");
        
        // Operation 5: First sponsorship deal
        sponsorshipEarnings += 500.00;
        System.out.println("First sponsorship deal secured!");
        System.out.println("Earnings: $" + sponsorshipEarnings + "\n");
        
        // Operation 6: Brand deal - earnings increase
        sponsorshipEarnings *= 3;
        System.out.println("Major brand deal! (Earnings tripled)");
        System.out.println("Total earnings: $" + sponsorshipEarnings + "\n");
        
        // Operation 7: Calculate ranking position
        position %= 100;
        System.out.println("Final ranking position: " + position + "\n");
        
        // Operation 8: Increment posts for consistency
        posts++;
        System.out.println("Posted another video for consistency!");
        System.out.println("Total posts: " + posts + "\n");
        
        System.out.println("=== SIMULATION COMPLETE ===");
        System.out.println("\nFinal Statistics:");
        System.out.println("Total Followers: " + followers);
        System.out.println("Total Posts: " + posts);
        System.out.println("Total Engagement: " + engagement + " likes");
        System.out.println("Sponsorship Earnings: $" + sponsorshipEarnings);
        System.out.println("Leaderboard Position: " + position);
    }
}
SocialMediaSimulator.main(null);

=== SOCIAL MEDIA SIMULATOR ===

Starting followers: 500
Starting posts: 10
Starting engagement: 350 likes

Posted a new video!
Followers: 750 (+250 from the viral video)
Total posts: 11

Controversial opinion posted...
Followers: 700 (-50 from upset followers)

Trending hashtag boost!
Followers: 1400 (doubled from trending!)
Engagement: 700 likes (doubled!)

Average engagement per post: 63 likes

First sponsorship deal secured!
Earnings: $500.0

Major brand deal! (Earnings tripled)
Total earnings: $1500.0

Final ranking position: 50

Posted another video for consistency!
Total posts: 12

=== SIMULATION COMPLETE ===

Final Statistics:
Total Followers: 1400
Total Posts: 12
Total Engagement: 700 likes
Sponsorship Earnings: $1500.0
Leaderboard Position: 50

Key Takeaways

Compound assignment operators make code cleaner and more efficient

  • +=, -=, *=, /=, %= combine operations with assignment
  • ++ and – are shorthand for incrementing/decrementing by 1

Important Rules for AP Exam:

  • Variable must exist before using compound operators
  • Integer division truncates (no decimals)
  • Only post-form (x++, x–) is tested on AP exam

Real-world applications:

  • Game development (scores, health, counters)
  • Financial calculations (balances, interest)
  • Social media metrics (followers, engagement)
  • Fitness tracking (calories, steps, progress)