The k largest elements of M, I'm stuck with it (rookie)!

Question

Hello!
I have to write a program, which first reads an int k, than reads a row of ints M, until 0 is entered. Than the program must show the k largest elements of that row M. For example: I enter 4 for k, and enter 3, 6, 12, 8, 16, 17, 9, and in the end 0 to stop the input. Finally the 4 largest elements 9,12,16 and 17 should be shown. I have to write this program for homework and I am stick with it since yesterday. I am trying to create an array in which the numbers should be stored, and than another array with the same components, where they will be sorted. Than the last k sorted numbers should be displayed. I used couple of books and lectures in which the sort function was explained and I came up with this code:
public class Max extends MiniJava {     
public static int[] sort (int[] a) {
          int n = a.length;
          int[] b = new int[n];
          for (int i = 0; i<n; ++i)
          insert (b, a, i);
          return b;
     public static void insert (int[] b, int x, int i) {
          int j = locate (b,x,i);
          shift (b,j,i);
          b[j] = x;
     public static int locate (int[] b, int x, int i) {
          int j = 0;
          while (j < i && x > b[j]) ++j;
          return j;
     public static void shift (int[] b, int j, int i) {
          for (int k = i-1; k >= j; --k)
          b[k+1] = b[k];
This is just the "sorting" part I have to make it show the k largest elements and I just can't do it. We are currently using the MiniJava class, because we are in the very very beginning and it should be easier with it. Here is a link to it http://savefile.com/files/255814
If anyone can help, I will be very grateful. Tnx in advance!

Answer 1

The input and sorting didn't actually worked, so I decided to try with a different approach. Here is the code now:
public class test extends MiniJava {
public static void main(String[] args) {
          int[] a;
          int k=read();
          a = new int[k]; // a = k groessten Zahlen, Anlegen des Felds
          int x; // x - unsere Zahl;
while (x != 0){
x = read();
public void store (int x, int[] a){
     int b = 0; // der kleinste Zahlindex
int m; //die kleinste Zahl
for(int i = 0; i < 0; i++)
int c = a;
if(m >= c)
m = c;
b = i;
if(x >= m)
a[b] = x;
     public void print (int x, int[] a){
for (int i=0; i <a.length; i++)
write (a[i]);
The problem is that when I try to compile it i get 3 errors:
variable x might not have been initialized while (x != 0) {
variable m might not have been initialized if (m>=c)
variable m might not have been initialized if (x >= m)
Where is the mistake? Is it in the declaration or is it in the store function?