Comparing 3 Integers and Displaying the Largest and smallest

[MBeckford05]

Hello, I am trying to write java program to input three integer numbers compare them and display the largest and Smallest number. I have thought about the problem I would need to use a comparison operate determine which number is larger and which is smaller. I am new to java I was wondering how to but this into java source code.

Can anyone Help?

Thank You.

MBeckfod05

[JosAH]

Just put your three numbers in an array and use the Arrays.sort() method.
The number at the start of the array will be the smallest number; the one at the
end will be the largest number.

kind regards,

Jos

[BSCode266]

You can also just use if-statements. For 3 integers i would say an array is a bit of an overkill. Just check a couple times which one is the largest and which one is the smallest.

as an example:

if ( x > y) {
largest = x;
}
 

You will have to do this a couple times and you are all set.

BSCode266

[Ganon11]

I agree with BSCode. As this sounds like a class assignment type question, it is probably being covered in an intro-level course, and they may not have even gotten to arrays yet!

Using if...statements is probably your best bet. I would use two 'checks' in each statement - for example, I would want to check if a is bigger than b AND if a is bigger than c.

[JosAH]

I agree with BSCode. As this sounds like a class assignment type question, it is probably being covered in an intro-level course, and they may not have even gotten to arrays yet!

Using if...statements is probably your best bet. I would use two 'checks' in each statement - for example, I would want to check if a is bigger than b AND if a is bigger than c.

Don't do that because you'll be throwing away valuable information then. Write it
out and you'll see that you're basically doing this:

if (a >= b && a >= c) max= a;
else if (b >= a && b >= c) max = b;
else if (c >= a && c >= b) max= c;

... and then you have to do the same for the minimum value; on top of that
you'll be testing quite a bit of comparisons twice.

Better do this then:

if (a >= b) 
   if (a >= c) { max= a; if (b >= c) min= c; else min= b; }
   else { max= c; min= b; }
else if (b >= c)
   { max= b; if (a >= c) min= c; else min= a; }
else { max= c; if (a >= b) min= b; else min= a; }

kind regards,

Jos (<--- cycle squeezer ;-)