How to return boolean statement if the sum of an arraylist is less than or equal to a maximum number?

I have the method head

public boolean legal(int total)

that must return true if the sum of the ArrayList<Integer> numbers is not higher than the parameter total.

Please help me on how I could implement this. Which type of loop is preferred?

Thanks.

Using Java 8 streams:

public boolean legal(int total) {
    return numbers.stream()
     .mapToInt(Integer::intValue) // converts the stream to an IntStream object
     .sum() <= total; 
}

You may have to implement like this

int[] arr = new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
public boolean legal(int total){
    int i=0;
    int sum=0;
    while (i < arr.length) {
       sum += arr[i];
       i=i+1;
    } 
    if(sum <= total){
       return true;
    }
    else{
      return false;
    }
}

Probably the simplest way to loop thotugh your list is by using a foreach loop

public boolean legal(int total) {
   
    int sum = 0;
    for(int num : numbers) { //loop through every number in ArrayList numbers
        sum += num;  
    }
   
    return sum <= total; //return true if the sum is less than or equal to total
}

A foreach loop is easier to use than a for loop since you do not to handle indeces. However a foreach loop can only be used if your collection have indices, which for your case an ArrayList have. Therefore a foreach loop is the easiest way to loop thorugh your list.

If your collection do not have indices (if your use for example a Set) you can instead use a regular for loop or an Iterator.