Find the Max/Min of values within a for loop

Question

I've searched for answers to this specific question, but haven't been able to find anything. I need to find the maximum and minimum of the input numbers but the values I need are inside the for loop and I can't figure out how to use them outside of it.

System.out.print("How many numbers do you want to input?");

    int totalNumbers = console.nextInt();

    int minMax = 0;
    for(int i = 1; i <= totalNumbers; i++){
        System.out.print("Number " + i + ": ");
        int inputNumbers = console.nextInt();
    }
    System.out.println();

    int smallest = Math.min(minMax);
    System.out.println("Smallest = " + smallest);
    int largest = Math.max(minMax); 
    System.out.println("Largest = " + largest);

I don't need changed code just something that will get me on the right track.Thank you!

Answer 1

Can you notice the problem with the following loop?

for(int i = 1; i <= totalNumbers; i++){
        System.out.print("Number " + i + ": ");
        int inputNumbers = console.nextInt();
    }

You are running the loop totalNumbers times and every time you create a new int with name inputNumbers and store the value received from console. Also where are you changing the value of minMax? Also Math.min(or max) does not take single paramtere and wont even compile.

Now you have few options:

1. Either store all the numbers in an array and then traverse that for min and max elements using some utility method.
2. Set some min and max value and run a loop to get all items and also keep track of min and max in loop.

I am not writing any solution as I want you to try it yourself.

Answer 2

The Math.min() and Math.max() methods, according to the oracle documentation, can only compare two values. Importing the values into an array, and then performing operations on the array, should allow you to find minimums and maximums, as well as any other data operation quite easily.

int[] numbers = new int[totalNumbers];

for (int i = 0; i < totalNumbers; i++) {
    numbers[i] = console.nextInt();
}

//Other Operations