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[MagmaMcFry]

Programmers, always trying to find solutions, never trying to solve problems...
If it says anywhere on the marking criteria 'Must solve for n integers withing x time' I would be very surprised.

If you have two variations of a routine that are writable in the same time, but the first is objectively better than the second, why pick the second?

[Virex]

Couldn't you do this in O(log(n)) time, instead of O(n)?

Code: (pseudocode, my C++ is nonexistant) [Select]

max(number a, number b)
    if a> b
        return a
    else
        return b
    end if
end max


max(array numbers)
    int n = length(numbers)
    case
        n == 0 -> error
        n == 1 -> return numbers(0)
        n == 2 -> return max(numbers(0), numbers(1))
        n => 3 -> return max( max(numbers(0:n/2)), numbers(array(n/2:n))))
    end case
end max


[Max White]

If you have two variations of a routine that are writable in the same time, but the first is objectively better than the second, why pick the second?

Well one reason is to keep your code coherent and compliment with an open and close principle. Sometimes for good design, you have to compromise on speed a little.

Apart from that, so that you can learn how the second works.

[MagmaMcFry]

Couldn't you do this in O(log(n)) time, instead of O(n)?

Code: (snopped) [Select]

Since every single array element is compared to, the runtime of your code is necessarily O(n). Only your recursion depth is O(log(n)), the amount of calls to max() is still O(n).

[Virex]

Whelp you're right.


Edit: Screw me, of course you can't find the maximum of an array in log(n) time, since if no assumptions can be made about the array, every element needs to be checked.

[Soadreqm]

If you have two variations of a routine that are writable in the same time, but the first is objectively better than the second, why pick the second?

To maintain my artistic vision.
Some people say that it is bad form to use a GOTO to jump from inside one endless loop to inside another endless loop. I say to hell with those people! My algorithm doesn't actually do anything, okay? It represents the idea of a working algorithm, and if you small-minded traditionalist sticks-in-the-mud can't let go of your ridiculous preconceived notions of "good" and "bad" ways of doing things, you don't deserve to understand my work!

[Max White]

You say that as a joke, but Perl Poetry is a real thing...

[kaenneth]

Out of the list of numbers {0,1,1} which one is the largest? (pun slightly intended)

If you are only returning the value of the the largest integer in a set, it's easy to say the result is 1; which is fine for this basic programming exercise. But if the numbers are attributes of objects (like item prices) you're going to have to decide which one, or many to return.

This may seem excessively pedantic; but asking these kinds of questions during programming interviews is how I get employed.

[Skyrunner]

Isn't the textbook answer "refer to the specifications, and if not known consult a supervisor/whoeve wrote it"? XD

[GlyphGryph]

If on a time limit and no answer can be found through either of the other sources, and there is not additional time for the discovery phase, establish a standard (the first input, barring information that multiple items is a valid return) and make note of it, along with filing a ticket to confirm this standard later and change this code if it no longer meets the standard.

[Skyrunner]

Help ;_;
We're learning C! With Visual C++ 6.0! And the file extenctions are .cpp! I can't stand anymore ;_;

Also, USBs are blocked, files wiped daily.

I guess I could do a daily Codeblocks+gcc(?) installation. <.< But stiiill.

[Max White]

Highschool or university?

[Skyrunner]

Highschool.
What stumps me is that my school bought thirty copies of VS 6.0 over the past three years instead of 2010, or even codeblocks.

... How? O_o

[Sirus]

Well, if it's anything like Visual Studio, you should be able to make it work by naming each file <name>.c

Spoiler: Like so (click to show/hide)

[Skyrunner]

My main problem is that the UI is rather bad, and that I don't have any STL containers to play with D: Also some non-standards gotchas.
The speed of the class is so very slow...