private static int myLocalVariableExample(int a, int b) {

            // local variable defined within the method to store the value of total
            int total = 0;

            total += a += b;

            if(total > 0) {
                String value_greater_zero = "Value is greater than 0";
                System.out.println(value_greater_zero);
            }

            // code will not compile as you can only access the variable value_greater_zero, from within the If statement
            // System.out.println(value_greater_zero);

            return total;
        }