java - Cannot find symbol when creating an object in IO class using inheritance -

i'm trying create tourist object on io class , parameters specified correctly in respective class. however, wouldn't compile says cannot find symbol. because i'm using tourist sub-classes? compiler says cannot find symbol variable "nam" etc.. helping.

this method in io class..

private void addmembercard()         {             system.out.println("enter member name");             string name = reader.nextline();             system.out.println("select 1. tourist, 2. business");             system.out.println("enter choice");             int choice = reader.nextint();               membercard m;             if (choice == 1){m = new tourist (nam, rat, cred, cit);}             else if (choice == 2){m = new business(nam, rat);}             preston.addmembercard(m);     } 

and constructor in tourist class

public tourist (string nam, int rat, int cred, string cit)     {         super(nam, rat, cred);         city = cit;     } 

this has nothing inheritance. need understand difference between parameters , arguments. parameters nam, rat, cred, , cit exist within tourist constructor. in addmembercard() method, nam, rat, cred, , cit don't exist; markspace indirectly pointed out. need use arguments, existing variables actual value.

this should help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/parameter_%28computer_programming%29#parameters_and_arguments