How to find the largest odd number and smallest even number from an array

Question

Hello All
I want to find out largest odd number and the smallest even number from an arry numbers? What is the best method to achieve this.
Thanks
Sravz

Answer 1

You need to sit down and figure out an algo on how you would do it if you had to do the same thing from a blind container perspective:
1 - collect all the items you want to look at
2 - look at an item
3 - is it odd?
4 - if it is odd then check if it is larger than previously largest number
5 - save it if it is larger
6 - return back to 2 unless no more items
7 - item is not odd so it must be even--is it smaller than previous
8 - save it if it is smaller
9 - return back to 2 unless no more items
Now you just need to know how to check if something is even or odd: to do this you will need the modulous operator--integer division.
Note: this all assumes that your needs are for integer type of numbers, otherwise there is not enough information to define an answer. For instance, if you are using floats at 0.5--it that even or odd? Do you consider an err factor when dealing with floats? etc...