Java tutorial
//package com.java2s; import java.util.Collection; public class Main { public static Number getNumber(Collection<?> list) { Object obj = getUnique(list); if (obj instanceof Number) return ((Number) obj); throw new IllegalArgumentException("list result is not instanceof Number"); } public static <T> T getUnique(Collection<T> list) { if (list == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException(" collection is null! collection must be not null"); else if (list.size() != 1) throw new IllegalArgumentException( list.size() + " collection must be unique : " + list.iterator().next().toString()); else return list.iterator().next(); } }