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C++ How to find the highest and lowest value of user inputs?

Hello you more experienced C++ programmers,
I am learning C++ on my own (just to keep my brain cells active); bought the C++ Programming book, and so far have been doing pretty good. The book has an exercise which I am now struggling: the program should prompt user to enter a length in feet and inches for 10 times, and display the sum of all user inputs as feet and inches. Additionally, the program should display the lowest and highest value of user inputs. I am struggling with the lowest and highest part. Code below shows how I have started the exercise, but I am not sure if I, instead of the for loop, should have used variables
int userFeet1, userInches1, userFeet2, userInches2 etc. until userFeet10, userInches10 so that I can find the lowest and highest values. Any advice?

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{

int sumInches =0;
int feet, inches;
int lowest_value, highest_value = 0:

for(int i=1;i<=10; i++) //loop ten times
{
cout<<"Enter the lenght in feet and inches: ";
cin>>feet>>inches;

int length= feet*12 + inches; //convert to inches

sumInches = sumInches + length;//calculate total inches 

}

  feet = sumInches/12; 
  inches %= 12;

  cout <<"The sum is " << feet << " feet " << inches << " inches " <<endl; //print the sum of users inputs in feet and inches

//code for highest and lowest value........

return 0;
}

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Infinity08

How about, instead of storing the lengths using two values, you store them as just one value : the length in inches.

So, read the value for feet, and inches from the user, then calculate the length in inches from these two values, and use that for the rest of your calculations.

Having one value makes it easier to compare two lengths, and know which is shorter or longer.

To keep track of the shortest and longest, have two extra variables : one for the shortest, and one for the longest. For each length that the user gives, updates those two values if necessary to always have the shortest resp. longest length in them.

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Zoppo

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SOLUTION

Infinity08

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athomsfere

Have you covered arrays yet? I do not see one in the code.

I would say create an array, then you can either sort and pull the value from the first and last index, or I believe C++ has a method built in for highest and lowest values.

Infinity08

>> PS @Infinity08: IMO what you suggested is already there ...

Heh, yes. Spotted that after I posted ;)

sarabande

for mimimum change to your existing code, add at end of loop:

if (n == 1)
{
// initialize both lowest and highest to the first length given
...
}
else
{

if (length < lowest_value)
... // set lowest to length

// and similar for highest
...
}

Sara

Mathilda10

ASKER

Thank you for your postings,I followed Zoppo's advice and the code is working! It displays the correct sum of all lenghts that user has inputted (in feet and inches) and highest and lowest lenghts (in inches). I overlooked the exercise instruction: the output values for highest and lowest lenghts should be displayed in feet and inches. How do I covert the inches for highest and lowest lengths back to feet and inches, so that the program displays
Lowest lenght= 1 feet 0 inches (instead of 12 inches), and same thing for Highest length..
This is the code I have made with your help:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{

int sumInches =0;
int feet, inches;
int lowest_value = 99999;
int highest_value = 0;

for(int i=1;i<=5; i++) //loop ten times
{
cout<<"Enter the lenght in feet and inches: ";
cin>>feet>>inches;
int length= feet*12 + inches; //convert to inches
sumInches = sumInches + length;//calculate total inches
if ( length < lowest_value )
{
lowest_value = length;
}
if ( length > highest_value )
{
highest_value = length;
}

}

feet = sumInches/12;
inches %= 12;
cout <<"The sum is " << feet << " feet " << inches << " inches " <<endl; //print the sum of users inputs in feet and inches

cout <<"Lowest lenght= " << lowest_value<< " inches " <<endl;
cout <<"Highest lenght = " << highest_value<< " inches" <<endl;

return 0;
}

SOLUTION

Infinity08

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Mathilda10

ASKER

Yes, of course....sometimes I stare at the coding problem (which actually is not a problem at all) and make it way too complicated. Thanks so much.

Infinity08

No problem :)

Mathilda10

ASKER

Thank you so much for your help!