lowest variable

[packman]

I have 5 numbers and each is stored in its own variable. How do I find the lowest number?

[parksie]

Hint: Make an array of pointers, then loop through it to find the lowest.

[jim mcnamara]

int a[5];
a[0]=23; 
a[1]=13;  ..... etc
printf("%d\n",min(a,5) );
...............
int min(int *whatever,int cnt){

       int *ptr;
       int result=0   // assume all numbers are positive
       for(ptr=whatever;cnt;cnt--,ptr++) 
                          if (*ptr>result) result=*ptr;
       return result;
            
}

[CornedBee]

min is not a good choice for the name, there is a macro with that name.

In C++ you can use the min_element algorithm.

For parksie's suggestion, here's what you would do (in C++):

#include <algorithm>
using std::min_element;

int a, b, c, d, e; // your 5 integers
// parksie's suggestion:
int * ar[5] = {&a, &b, &c, &d, &e};
// my suggestion:
struct pred_minptr {
  bool operator ()(int *pa, int *pb) {
    return *pa < *pb;
  };
};

// find the minimum:
int min = **min_element(ar, ar+5, pred_minptr());