This tutorial shows how to find the minimum and maximum number from a set of numbers.
Numbers Stored In A List
Enumeration Method
If all the numbers are stored in a list, the basic idea is to use a loop to enumerate over the items. A variable can store the last found item. There are many variations including but not limited to: storing the last index, finding both the minimum and maximum at the same time, and finding multiple minima and maxima.
Example 1 finding the maximum
set [max v] to [-Infinity] // the result will be stored here
set [i v] to [1] // counter
repeat (length of [list v]) // enumerate over every list item
if <(item (i) of [list v]) > (max)> then // check if the list item is larger
set [max v] to (item (i) of [list v]) // a larger item was found so update the variable
end
change [i v] by [1] // increase counter to go to the next list item
end
Example 2 finding the maximum
set [i v] to [1]
set [max v] to (item (1) of [list v]) // assumes that the maximum will be at least equal to the first item
repeat (length of [list v])
change [i v] by [1]
if <(item (i) of [list v]) > (max)> then
set [max v] to (item (i) of [list v])
end
end
 Tip: | You can use a custom block set to "run without screen refresh" to make it run instantly. |
Sorting Method
If a list is sorted smallest-to-largest the first value would be the minimum and the last value would be the maximum.
(item (1) of [sorted list v]) // minimum (item (length of [sorted list v]) of [sorted list v]) // maximum (item (join [last] []) of [sorted list v]) // maximum
Numbers Joined In A String
This section explains how to find a minimum or maximum from a string of numbers separated by semicolons such as 45;-12;6;18.5.
The simplest way conceptually would be to write a script that separates the numbers into list items. Then the method follows identically to Numbers Stored In A List.
To perform the separation, the following can be used:
split string [45;-12;6;18.5] by delimiter [;]
find maximum of list
say (max)
define split string (string) by delimiter (delimiter)
delete all of [list v]
set [substring v] to [] // empty string
set [i v] to [1]
repeat (length of (string)) // enumerate over the string's characters
if <(letter (i) of (string)) = (delimiter)> then // check if the current character is the delimiter
add (substring) to [list v]
set [substring v] to [] // empty string
else
set [substring v] to (join (substring) (letter (i) of (string)))
end
change [i v] by (1)
end
add (substring) to [list v] // add whatever's left to the list
define find maximum of list
set [max v] to []
set [i v] to [1]
repeat (length of [list v])
if <(item (i) of [list v]) > (max)> then
set [max v] to (item (i) of [list v])
end
change [i v] by [1]
end
Optimized
Alternatively the above can be implemented in one loop, avoiding the need to store the numbers in a list:
find maximum of [45;-12;6;18.5] separated by delimiter [;]
say (max)
define find maximum of (string) separated by delimiter (delimiter)
set [max v] to [] // the result will be stored here
set [substring v] to [] // empty string
set [i v] to [1]
repeat (length of (string)) // enumerate over the string's characters
if <(letter (i) of (string)) = (delimiter)> then // check if the current character is the delimiter
if <(substring) > (max)> then // check if the substring is larger
set [max v] to (substring)
end
set [substring v] to [] // empty string
else
set [substring v] to (join (substring) (letter (i) of (string)))
end
change [i v] by (1)
end
if <(substring) > (max)> then
set [max v] to (substring)
end
