Hi everyone, I am just starting to learn php this morning, I have had only 2 hours lesson and my teacher has set me an assignment at the end of the lesson and asked me to:

Program to display the smallest and the largest number among three numbers

Can you tell me if my coding is correct.

PHP Code:

<?php

$a=1;
$b=2;
$c=3;

if($b<>$a || $c)
{
echo $a."is less than".$b".$c."is more than".$b;
}

?>

If not can you tell me why this doesnt work and could you help me understand what will work.

Thanks in advance

Have you been taught anything about arrays? If so, that would be a better way of storing the values
(BIG hint: whether you use an array or separate variables, your teacher has not asked you to display the middle value, just the min and max)

no, i have just had 2 hours lesson and he told me just the very basics. I have not got to the arrays yet

You have a couple of syntax mistakes in your code.

One way to find the largest and smallest values without using an array:

PHP Code:

$a=1; 
$b=2; 
$c=3;

$largest = $a;
if($b > $largest)
     $largest = $b;
if($c > $largest)
     $largest = $c;

$smallest = $a;
if($b < $smallest)
     $smallest = $b;
if($c < $smallest)
     $smallest = $c;

echo "Largest: $largest \n";
echo "Smallest: $smallest"; 


I dont know if i should use something like this as my teacher will know its not my coding as her has not showed me the $largest \n yet.

Plus i only want to use code inwhich i understand 100% as if i give him work which i have not done its only me i am cheating as i will not understand what i have created...

What are the syntax errors and why. So i can understand not doing this in future.
Thanks for the help

Ok i have changed the coding.

Does this work?

PHP Code:

<?php

$a=1;
$b=2;
$c=3;

if($b>=$a && $b<=$c)
{
echo $a. "is less than".$b. "." .$c. "is more than" .$b;
}
else
{
echo "error within calculations";
}

?>

Originally Posted by NullPointer

You have a couple of syntax mistakes in your code.

One way to find the largest and smallest values without using an array:

PHP Code:

$a=1; 
$b=2; 
$c=3;
 
$largest = $a;
if($b > $largest)
     $largest = $b;
if($c > $largest)
     $largest = $c;
 
$smallest = $a;
if($b < $smallest)
     $smallest = $b;
if($c < $smallest)
     $smallest = $c;
 
echo "Largest: $largest \n";
echo "Smallest: $smallest"; 


This code is right. But if there are 100 or more numbers. it will be complex

Originally Posted by RobbieG

Ok i have changed the coding.

Does this work?

PHP Code:

<?php

$a=1;
$b=2;
$c=3;

if($b>=$a && $b<=$c)
{
echo $a. "is less than".$b. "." .$c. "is more than" .$b;
}
else
{
echo "error within calculations";
}

?>

Your code is correct, but it won't give you the largest and smallest values. I don't mean to just give you the answer, but it is difficult to show you how without giving you a solution in the process. Another way to do it would be:

PHP Code:

if($a >= $b && $a >= $c)
     echo $a . ' is the largest';
elseif($b >= $a && $b >= $c)
     echo $b . ' is the largest';
else
     echo $c . ' is the largest'; 


You could do something similar for finding the smallest.

By the way \n just means new line. The code

PHP Code:

echo "hello \n world"; 


will output

hello
world

Just make sure you use double quotes when doing this otherwise you'll get the literal \n.

Originally Posted by mushget

This code is right. But if there are 100 or more numbers. it will be complex

Hopefully if you had that many numbers they would be in an array.

I would advise you to check out youtube there is some great vids to help you learn php i learnt alot from it