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Smallest of three integers without comparison operators

Bit manipulation trick to find the minimum of two integers a and b, without using comparison operators.

Code Solution

// C program for
// Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
#include <stdio.h>

// Return a minimum value of given two numbers
int minValue(int a, int b)
{
  return b + (((a - b) >> (sizeof(int) *7)) & (a - b));
}
// Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
void smallest(int a, int b, int c)
{
  // Display given value
  printf(" A : %d\n", a);
  printf(" B : %d\n", b);
  printf(" C : %d\n", c);
  int result = minValue(a, minValue(b, c));
  // Display calculated minimum
  printf(" Minimum is : %d\n\n", result);
}
int main()
{
  // Test cases
  smallest(3, -2, -6);
  smallest(5, 9, 7);
  smallest(-2, -2, -1);
  smallest(12, 3, 4);
  return 0;
}

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

/*
  Java Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
class Comparison
{
  // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  public int minValue(int a, int b)
  {
    return b + (((a - b) >> (Integer.SIZE-1)) & (a - b));
  }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  public void smallest(int a, int b, int c)
  {
    // Display given value
    System.out.print(" A : " + a + "\n");
    System.out.print(" B : " + b + "\n");
    System.out.print(" C : " + c + "\n");
    int result = minValue(a, minValue(b, c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    System.out.print(" Minimum is : " + result + "\n\n");
  }
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    Comparison task = new Comparison();
    // Test cases
    task.smallest(3, -2, -6);
    task.smallest(5, 9, 7);
    task.smallest(-2, -2, -1);
    task.smallest(12, 3, 4);
  }
}

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

// Include header file
#include <iostream>

#include<limits.h>

using namespace std;
/*
  C++ Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
class Comparison
{
  public:
    // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
    int minValue(int a, int b)
    {
      return b + (((a - b) >> (sizeof(int) *7)) &(a - b));
    }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  void smallest(int a, int b, int c)
  {
    // Display given value
    cout << " A : " << a << "\n";
    cout << " B : " << b << "\n";
    cout << " C : " << c << "\n";
    int result = this->minValue(a, this->minValue(b, c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    cout << " Minimum is : " << result << "\n\n";
  }
};
int main()
{
  Comparison task = Comparison();
  // Test cases
  task.smallest(3, -2, -6);
  task.smallest(5, 9, 7);
  task.smallest(-2, -2, -1);
  task.smallest(12, 3, 4);
  return 0;
}

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

// Include namespace system
using System;
/*
  C# Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
public class Comparison
{
  // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  public int minValue(int a, int b)
  {
    return b + (((a - b) >> (sizeof(int) * 7)) & (a - b));
  }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  public void smallest(int a, int b, int c)
  {
    // Display given value
    Console.Write(" A : " + a + "\n");
    Console.Write(" B : " + b + "\n");
    Console.Write(" C : " + c + "\n");
    int result = minValue(a, minValue(b, c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    Console.Write(" Minimum is : " + result + "\n\n");
  }
  public static void Main(String[] args)
  {
    Comparison task = new Comparison();
    // Test cases
    task.smallest(3, -2, -6);
    task.smallest(5, 9, 7);
    task.smallest(-2, -2, -1);
    task.smallest(12, 3, 4);
  }
}

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

<?php
/*
  Php Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
class Comparison
{
  // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  public  function minValue($a, $b)
  {
    return $b + ((($a - $b) >> (8 * (PHP_INT_SIZE - 1))) & ($a - $b));
  }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  public  function smallest($a, $b, $c)
  {
    // Display given value
    echo " A : ". $a ."\n";
    echo " B : ". $b ."\n";
    echo " C : ". $c ."\n";
    $result = $this->minValue($a, $this->minValue($b, $c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    echo " Minimum is : ". $result ."\n\n";
  }
}

function main()
{
  $task = new Comparison();
  // Test cases
  $task->smallest(3, -2, -6);
  $task->smallest(5, 9, 7);
  $task->smallest(-2, -2, -1);
  $task->smallest(12, 3, 4);
}
main();

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

/*
  Node Js Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
class Comparison
{
  // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  minValue(a, b)
  {
    return b + (((a - b) >> (31)) & (a - b));
  }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  smallest(a, b, c)
  {
    // Display given value
    process.stdout.write(" A : " + a + "\n");
    process.stdout.write(" B : " + b + "\n");
    process.stdout.write(" C : " + c + "\n");
    var result = this.minValue(a, this.minValue(b, c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    process.stdout.write(" Minimum is : " + result + "\n\n");
  }
}

function main()
{
  var task = new Comparison();
  // Test cases
  task.smallest(3, -2, -6);
  task.smallest(5, 9, 7);
  task.smallest(-2, -2, -1);
  task.smallest(12, 3, 4);
}
main();

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

import sys
#   Python 3 Program for
#   Smallest of three integers without comparison operators

class Comparison :
  #  Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  def minValue(self, a, b) :
    return b + (((a - b) >> (sys.getsizeof(int()) - 1)) & (a - b))
  
  #  Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  def smallest(self, a, b, c) :
    #  Display given value
    print(" A : ", a )
    print(" B : ", b )
    print(" C : ", c )
    result = self.minValue(a, self.minValue(b, c))
    #  Display calculated minimum
    print(" Minimum is : ", result ,"\n")
  

def main() :
  task = Comparison()
  #  Test cases
  task.smallest(3, -2, -6)
  task.smallest(5, 9, 7)
  task.smallest(-2, -2, -1)
  task.smallest(12, 3, 4)

if __name__ == "__main__": main()

Output

 A :  3
 B :  -2
 C :  -6
 Minimum is :  -6

 A :  5
 B :  9
 C :  7
 Minimum is :  5

 A :  -2
 B :  -2
 C :  -1
 Minimum is :  -2

 A :  12
 B :  3
 C :  4
 Minimum is :  3

#   Ruby Program for
#   Smallest of three integers without comparison operators

class Comparison 
  #  Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  def minValue(a, b) 
    return b + (((a - b) >> ( (1.size) * 8 - 1)) & (a - b))
  end

  #  Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  def smallest(a, b, c) 
    #  Display given value
    print(" A : ", a ,"\n")
    print(" B : ", b ,"\n")
    print(" C : ", c ,"\n")
    result = self.minValue(a, self.minValue(b, c))
    #  Display calculated minimum
    print(" Minimum is : ", result ,"\n\n")
  end

end

def main() 
  task = Comparison.new()
  #  Test cases
  task.smallest(3, -2, -6)
  task.smallest(5, 9, 7)
  task.smallest(-2, -2, -1)
  task.smallest(12, 3, 4)
end

main()

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3


/*
  Scala Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
class Comparison
{
  // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  def minValue(a: Int, b: Int): Int = {
    return b + (((a - b) >> (Integer.SIZE - 1)) & (a - b));
  }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  def smallest(a: Int, b: Int, c: Int): Unit = {
    // Display given value
    print(" A : " + a + "\n");
    print(" B : " + b + "\n");
    print(" C : " + c + "\n");
    var result: Int = this.minValue(a, this.minValue(b, c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    print(" Minimum is : " + result + "\n\n");
  }
}
object Main
{
  def main(args: Array[String]): Unit = {
    var task: Comparison = new Comparison();
    // Test cases
    task.smallest(3, -2, -6);
    task.smallest(5, 9, 7);
    task.smallest(-2, -2, -1);
    task.smallest(12, 3, 4);
  }
}

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

/*
  Swift 4 Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
class Comparison
{
  // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  func minValue(_ a: Int, _ b: Int)->Int
  {
    return b + (((a - b) >> (4 * MemoryLayout.size(ofValue:1) - 1)) & (a - b));
  }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  func smallest(_ a: Int, _ b: Int, _ c: Int)
  {
    // Display given value
    print(" A : ", a );
    print(" B : ", b );
    print(" C : ", c );
    let result: Int = self.minValue(a, self.minValue(b, c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    print(" Minimum is : ", result ,"\n");
  }
}
func main()
{
  let task: Comparison = Comparison();
  // Test cases
  task.smallest(3, -2, -6);
  task.smallest(5, 9, 7);
  task.smallest(-2, -2, -1);
  task.smallest(12, 3, 4);
}
main();

Output

 A :  3
 B :  -2
 C :  -6
 Minimum is :  -6

 A :  5
 B :  9
 C :  7
 Minimum is :  5

 A :  -2
 B :  -2
 C :  -1
 Minimum is :  -2

 A :  12
 B :  3
 C :  4
 Minimum is :  3

/*
  Kotlin Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
class Comparison
{
  // Return a minimum value of given two numbers
  fun minValue(a: Int, b: Int): Int
  {
    return b + (((a - b) shr (Integer.SIZE - 1)) and (a - b));
  }
  // Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
  fun smallest(a: Int, b: Int, c: Int): Unit
  {
    // Display given value
    print(" A : " + a + "\n");
    print(" B : " + b + "\n");
    print(" C : " + c + "\n");
    var result: Int = this.minValue(a, this.minValue(b, c));
    // Display calculated minimum
    print(" Minimum is : " + result + "\n\n");
  }
}
fun main(args: Array < String > ): Unit
{
  var task: Comparison = Comparison();
  // Test cases
  task.smallest(3, -2, -6);
  task.smallest(5, 9, 7);
  task.smallest(-2, -2, -1);
  task.smallest(12, 3, 4);
}

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6

 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5

 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2

 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3

package main
import "fmt"
import "unsafe"
/*
  Go Program for
  Smallest of three integers without comparison operators
*/
type Comparison struct {}
func getComparison() * Comparison {
  var me *Comparison = &Comparison {}
  return me
}
// Return a minimum value of given two numbers
func(this Comparison) minValue(a, b int) int {
  return b + (((a - b) >> (unsafe.Sizeof(1) - 1)) & (a - b))
}
// Handles the request of finding minimum of given three numbers
func(this Comparison) smallest(a, b, c int) {
  // Display given value
  fmt.Print(" A : ", a, "\n")
  fmt.Print(" B : ", b, "\n")
  fmt.Print(" C : ", c, "\n")
  var result int = this.minValue(a, this.minValue(b, c))
  // Display calculated minimum
  fmt.Println(" Minimum is : ", result)
}
func main() {
  var task * Comparison = getComparison()
  // Test cases
  task.smallest(3, -2, -6)
  task.smallest(5, 9, 7)
  task.smallest(-2, -2, -1)
  task.smallest(12, 3, 4)
}

Output

 A : 3
 B : -2
 C : -6
 Minimum is : -6
 A : 5
 B : 9
 C : 7
 Minimum is : 5
 A : -2
 B : -2
 C : -1
 Minimum is : -2
 A : 12
 B : 3
 C : 4
 Minimum is : 3
Last updated on by Kalkicode




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