Question

Discrete Mathematics question.

Given a pseudocode:

\[\textbf{procedure} \; max(a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_n: \; \text{integers})\]
\[max = a_1\]
\[\textbf{for} i = 2 \; \textbf{to} \; n\]
\[\qquad \textbf{if} \; max < a_i \; \textbf{then} \; max = a_i\]
\[\{\text{max is the largest element}\}\]

Answer 1

does anyone know how to explain this?

Answer 2

especially the argument of max

Answer 3

\( \; max(a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_n: \; \text{integers})\)
means that procedure accepts a1,a2,...an as integer values from the calling procedure

Answer 4

layman's terms?

Answer 5

we let max = a1

then there's a loop,,
we increase i one by 1..
first we get i2
if i2> i1 ,
then max = i2
if i2<i1,
then max remains i1

then comes i3, we compare max with i3
the greater one equates with max.

going on, we get comparison of max and in
finally, we get to know the maximum value of procedure..

Answer 6

is it the same as this
```
int a1, a2, a3,..., an;
```

Answer 7

by that i mean.. is the argument declaring a1, a2, a3, etc as integers?

Answer 8

..probably not

Answer 9

procedure calc()
int y=max(5,7,1,4)
a1 will be 5, a2=7 and so on

Answer 10

procedure is a function..

Answer 11

calc()?

Answer 12

we're talking about the argument of max @shubhamsrg

Answer 13

calc() is just another procedure/function that uses max procedure
and passes those integers as arguments, to find max integers among them

Answer 14

and whats wrong with shubham's explanation? it seems correct to me

Answer 15

first of all... "max" is just a name right?

Answer 16

he wasn't talking about the one i'm asking

Answer 17

yes, its just name, it can be lg also

Answer 18

and procedure is the function..?

Answer 19

yeah, just another name

Answer 20

well i think i get the rest...but i really don't understand the argument of max...is it the input?

Answer 21

we actually call a procedure to do some work.
it needs some input to work on.
so yes, the arguments are inputs to work upon.

Answer 22

but why a1, a2, a3,...., an : integers

Answer 23

what is the significance of a1 -> an

Answer 24

are those the values assigned to max?

Answer 25

...suppose not

Answer 26

max is a variable (on line max=a1)
it can be assigned only one value.
so for a start we assign it to 1st element, then keep on updating it....
and a1,a2,....an can be anything(non-integers also)
but then max has to be of same type.
here its taken as integers because your procedure is made to find max among integers only

Answer 27

wait...go slow...too many lines there...

Answer 28

what do you mean by max is a variable (on line max = a1)

Answer 29

the name of your procedure is 'max'
the variable u used temporarily also is 'max'
u could have used 'y' for that or something else...

Answer 30

we need something to hold the max value we got so far, hence we need a avriable

Answer 31

hmmm let me see if i get this right...

a1, a2, a3, ..., an : integers

means the input values are a1 -> an

Answer 32

and the values of a1 to an should be integer type
the 1st value passed will go to a1, 2nd to a2 and so on

Answer 33

wait...yes or no for my question first...

Answer 34

YES!
but only that would be incomplete

Answer 35

then... a1 -> an are integers

Answer 36

yes or no?

Answer 37

yes

Answer 38

so this is basically a declaration of the input values? <Y/N>

Answer 39

i mean input variables

Answer 40

yes

Answer 41

hmm then the program proper i get... what about {max is the largest element} what's it for?

Answer 42

after all iterations from 2 to n
the variable max will hold the maximum of the input elements
thats what is written

Answer 43

i get what max is the largest element means... i was referring to those curly braces

Answer 44

andalso *why* it's necessary to put {max is the largest element} at the end of the pseudocode

Answer 45

O.o i thot it was just to specify that.
idk it was necessary.

Answer 46

well every pseudocode i see has that

Answer 47

see?

Answer 48

i suppose it's something that's like a comment

Answer 49

i think that is just the description of the variable where final answer is calculated, and it would be necessary to give it in the end of procedure.
yes, like comment

Answer 50

well seems i understand this...i think.....time to see if i really can...