Determine which value of string is greater

Question

Hi everybody,
I have a fairly complex problem which i hope you can help me with..
The solution is not probably not very hard (i assume), just hard to explain it but I'll give it a try.
I'm working with arrays. These arrays are "declared" as strings, see below:
                 String[] aa;
              aa= new String[5];
              String[] bb;
              bb=new String [5];
              String [] cc;
              cc=new String[5];The programs asks the "tester" to type in three random numbers (see code below)
System.out.println("First number:");
               aa=TextIO.getWord();
                    System.out.println("Second number:");
                    bb[i]= TextIO.getWord();
                              System.out.println("Third number");
                                   cc[i]=TextIO.getWord();
The program is then supposed to print the greater of the typed values.
eg. First number is greater._
How do i make the program to say which one of the three numbers (the numbers can be anything from 0 - 1000000) is greater?
Since the values are +"Strings,"+ I assume you just can't say
if aa > bb && aa > cc print("first number is greater")  etc SO, i tried to write it like this:* (but ended up with the error: +"operator && cannot be applied to boolean,int"+
if (Integer.parseInt(aa) > Integer.parseInt(bb[i]) && Integer.parseInt(aa[i]) > Integer.parseInt(cc[i]))
                    correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(aa[i]);
               else if (Integer.parseInt(bb[i]) > Integer.parseInt(cc[i]) && Integer.parseInt(aa[i]))
                         correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(bb[i]);
                    else { correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(cc[i]); }
So the question is: How can i change the code (without changing the strings to int) so it will work?
I hope i have provided you with enough information, if not, please let me know.
Thanks

Answer 1

First off your array declaration is weird for strings. If you don't know the size of the string you are getting from the user then just declare your array like String aa = new String(). Leave it to an untold size!
Secondly, when you parse you are trying to parse a char. Characters already have an integer value. You need to parse the whole string.
Thirdly, when actaully getting the input from the user dump the parse into another variable...makes it easier.
ex: int firstNum = Integer.parseInt(aa) (when you declare it like I did above).
Fourthly, you need to check each greater than for every instance of the comparison. I.E.
if(a > b && a > c) {...}
if(b > a && b > c) {...}
if(c > a && c > b) {...}
Note: this goal can be accomplished dozens of different ways its up to you.
Quick fix: when you do this:
if (Integer.parseInt(aa) > Integer.parseInt(bb[i]) && Integer.parseInt(aa[i]) > Integer.parseInt(cc[i]))
                    correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(aa[i]);
               else if (Integer.parseInt(bb[i]) > Integer.parseInt(cc[i]) && Integer.parseInt(aa[i]))
                         correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(bb[i]);
                    else { correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(cc[i]); }
do this instead:
if (Integer.parseInt(aa) > Integer.parseInt(bb) && Integer.parseInt(aa) > Integer.parseInt(cc))
                    correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(aa);
               else if (Integer.parseInt(bb) > Integer.parseInt(cc) && Integer.parseInt(aa))
                         correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(bb);
                    else { correctanswer = Integer.parseInt(cc); }