Simple Program For Finding Largest Float

OK! So I am a beginner in a beginner class.

I just started learning primitive Data Types and Operations and I am writing a program to receive 4 float values input from a popup window (showInputDialog method). I have to find things like average, product, sum, and (here�s the biggy) largest/smallest (and display in Output = showMessageDialog method).

I can do everything except largest/smallest (I compiled and ran, and everything else works). I could use a hint on how to find the largest/smallest value (e.g. among 4 floats) by just using Primitive Data Types and Operations. I keep on remembering (from college 20 years ago) about something like if/then/else statements, but I am not there yet. So I am stuck with +, -, *, /, &&, ||, <, >, etc.

Any help is appreciated.

Mitch

Take a look at the javadoc for Math. You should spot something useful.

Bookmark the JavaDoc. We all use it every day! http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/

If you really want to use only primitives and operators - not the Math class - look at if and > as in:

if (a > b) do something

If you're really rusty on things like "if" you'll need a good language reference. Somebody with more brain cells than I will chime in with links to the Sun tutorial and a list of online books and such.

look up the api docs for Math.min() and Math.max()

declare variables
float min,max;

both min and max will be your first input.

each subsequent input you recheck min and max
min = Math.min(min,newInput);
max = Math.max(max,newInput);

Thank you!

Originally posted by Stan James:
Take a look at the javadoc for Math. You should spot something useful.

Bookmark the JavaDoc. We all use it every day! http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/

If you really want to use only primitives and operators - not the Math class - look at if and > as in:

if (a > b) do something

If you're really rusty on things like "if" you'll need a good language reference. Somebody with more brain cells than I will chime in with links to the Sun tutorial and a list of online books and such.

Welcome to JavaRanch, Mitch!

Originally posted by Stan James:
Somebody with more brain cells than I will chime in with links to the Sun tutorial and a list of online books and such.

Until that somebody makes an appearance, I thought you mike like to have the following list of free on-line Java tutorials and books that I have found useful:

Sun's Java Tutorial

Introduction to Computer Science using Java by Bradley Kjell

Introduction to Programming Using Java by David J. Eck

Dick Baldwin's Java Programming Tutorials

Interactive Programming In Java by Lynn Andrea Stein

Bruce Eckel's Thinking In Java

JavaRanch's own Campfire Stories

Allen B. Downey's How To Think Like A Computer Scientist

[ September 06, 2004: Message edited by: Dirk Schreckmann ]

Originally posted by Dirk Schreckmann:
Until that somebody makes an appearance, I thought you mike like to have the following list of free on-line Java tutorials and books that I have found useful:

Dirk, perhaps you shoud put that somewhere in the FAQ?

Good idea.