diff --git a/HelperFunctions.java b/HelperFunctions.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c22f5f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/HelperFunctions.java
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+//a collection of helper functions to act as responses for otherwise
+//external calls in this implementation for demo purposes
+
+public class HelperFunctions {
+    public double[] geocodingAPI(String inputAddress) { //simulates converting an input address into lat-long coordinates
+        double[] coords = new double[2];
+        switch (inputAddress) {
+            case "250 Community College Pkwy SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909":
+                coords[0] = 27.993699393377653;
+                coords[1] = -80.63006489971767;
+                break;
+            case "3865 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935":
+                coords[0] = 28.17009584609403;
+                coords[1] = -80.67083038806463;
+                break;
+        }
+        double[] returnArray = coords;
+        return returnArray;
+    }
+}