Re: How to find the greatest of two numbers without using the comparison operators?

On Aug 31, 3:28 pm, "Pete Dashwood"
<dashw...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Aparajita" <aparajita.moha...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:1188542463.524263.317700@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi,

I want to find the greatest of two given numbers say 'A' and 'B.

That would be the "greater" of two numbers; the "greatest" implies at least
three...

The condition is that I should use the IF clause but not comparison
operators like '<', '>','=' etc.
Is there any other operator in COBOL by which we can compare two
numbers.

No there isn't.

But what you want CAN be done.

a clue: Check out the COBOL SIGN test.

Then think about how a computer is able to make comparisons. How would a
"compare" instruction (on any platform) "work"? If you had to build a
computer, how would you build a "compare" instruction? Given that all you
can do is arithmetic and sign checking, how would you implement a "compare"?

Post your thoughts here, and we'll see how you go.

Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."

Hi Pete,
Thanks for your response.
I got an alternate solution,
like this
IF A-B IS POSITIVE
DISPLAY "A IS GREATER"
ELSE
DISPLAY "B IS GREATER"
END-IF.

What is your opinion on the above solution? Or if you find any
limitations or constraints with this code, please let me know.

Thanks!
Aparajita

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: interesting use of NEXT SENTENCE vs. CONTINUE
    ... I am asking how a machine language BRANCH instruction (which has a SINGLE ... can be SLOWER than a machine language COMPARE instruction that has ... If 150 programmers are each compiling 5 COBOL programs ... possibility that ALTERED code in your environment may not be a good thing, ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: Performance of PACK/UNPACK instructions
    ... Cobol will pack before doing a compare for when the operands in the ... compare are not the same data type and atleast one operand is numeric. ... Cobol will not do a pack/unpack pair for a compare ... ... hence instructions like pack and unpack. ...
    (bit.listserv.ibm-main)
  • Re: How to find the greatest of two numbers without using the comparison operators?
    ... Is there any other operator in COBOL by which we can compare two ... DISPLAY "A IS GREATER" ... opinion as to constraints or limitations on it. ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: interesting use of NEXT SENTENCE vs. CONTINUE
    ... It's my recollection that for at least early S/360 COBOL implementations the ... branch instruction to which the GO TO after the ALTERed LABEL pointed. ... compare that concerns me, it's the cost of the PCW manipulation (at the time ... > I see standards as being a helpful guide to new people joining the team. ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: How to find the greatest of two numbers without using the comparison operators?
    ... it HAD TO BE homework (because I can't think of any "good" reason to ... This may just be a typo,but Standard COBOL requires ... "A - B" is an arithmetic expression ... Is there any other operator in COBOL by which we can compare two ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)