can some one tell me how i can find maximum of two given integers without using decision or looping constructs?
a small algorithmic problem.
| akshar wrote: |
| can some one tell me how i can find maximum of two given integers without using decision or looping constructs? |
What do you mean?
no i don`t think you can...to calculate something you need to have atleast one decisional structure... i had this problem at a mid-term exam this winter in basic programming ...it would be something like:
this would be in c++ ...if you want i can make a version in php although it is pretty simple.
| Code: |
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#include <iostream> using namespace std; int main() { int a, b; cout<< "Insert 2 numbers and i`ll find out which is the largest"<<endl; cin>>a>>b; if(a>b) { cout<<a<<" is bigger then "<<b; } else if (b>a) { cout<<"b >>" is bigger then "<<a; } else cout <<"The two numbers are equal"; return 0; } |
this would be in c++ ...if you want i can make a version in php although it is pretty simple.
use the max!
http://uk.php.net/max
that would echo 7
to findsomething in php search google. inlcude in the search bar the word 'php' and then explain what you want. usually comes up with good results
http://uk.php.net/max
| Code: |
| <?php
max(7, 3); ?> |
that would echo 7
to findsomething in php search google. inlcude in the search bar the word 'php' and then explain what you want. usually comes up with good results
Possible 
assuming $a and $b are two integers
will return the biggest of them. Note that in the above code, $a and $b are interchangeable.
That is php code. But I guess it gives an idea.
assuming $a and $b are two integers
| Code: |
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floor($a/$b) * $b + ($a % $b) |
will return the biggest of them. Note that in the above code, $a and $b are interchangeable.
That is php code. But I guess it gives an idea.
Well, he has not asked for code, but algorithm. 
I think, the best one is based on comparison.
Is A greater than B?
YES: MAX is A and A is MAX.
NO: MAX is B and B is MAX.
The algorithm can be realized with:
1) the if/else control structure supported by almost all languages
2) trinary operator (if any supported by the given language)
3) the max() function supported by some languages
I think, the best one is based on comparison.
Is A greater than B?
YES: MAX is A and A is MAX.
NO: MAX is B and B is MAX.
The algorithm can be realized with:
1) the if/else control structure supported by almost all languages
| Code: |
| if (a > b) { max = a } else { max = b } |
2) trinary operator (if any supported by the given language)
| Code: |
| max = a > b ? a : b |
3) the max() function supported by some languages
| Code: |
| max = max(a, b) |
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. 
| yzy wrote: |
| I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. |
Simple he meant how to get the max from 2 integer numbers without comparison, so the only good answer was from kv others just used decision (good old ifs) or functions based on decision like max(a,b).
max=(a+b +abs(a-b))/2
So why ask if you already know the answers. but that was surely a clever algo.
@mathius, though i am not sure php max should be using decesion constructs behind the scenes.
@mathius, though i am not sure php max should be using decesion constructs behind the scenes.
| shabda wrote: |
| So why ask if you already know the answers. but that was surely a clever algo.
@mathius, though i am not sure php max should be using decesion constructs behind the scenes. |
I think it does couse few IFs are prolly faster than calculation.
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