A future exam question: Identify the elementary programming error in the following actual output from a real web store.

Bonus credit: describe both the quick emergency fix for the problem, and the longterm fix for the problem.

Greetings from CellularFactory.com. We thought you'd like to know that we shipped your items, and that this completes your order. Your order number is ###### Please keep this number for any future requests You can track the status of this order, and all your orders, online by visiting our page at http://www.CellularFactory.com/help/shipping.jsp The following items have been shipped to you by CellularFactory.com: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Qty Item Price Shipped Subtotal --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Travel Charger 5.89 2008-02-09 5.89 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shipped via USPS (estimated arrival date: about 4-6 days after) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Item Subtotal 5.89 Shipping & Handling: 3.99 Total: 9.879999999999999 -------------------------------------------------------------------- This shipment was sent to:

I teach this bug to my Intro to Java students, but I was a little shocked to see it in production. This is why I get nervous ordering from tiddlywink sites like Cellular Factory. If they can’t get the easy things right, what’s the chance they’re implementing proper information security procedures to protect my financial and personal information? Approximately zero, I’d venture.