Multiple conditions in ternary operators

Question

First off, the question is "Write a Java program to find the smallest of three numbers using ternary operators."

Here's my code:

class questionNine
{
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int x = 1, y = 2, z = 3;
        int smallestNum;

        smallestNum = (x<y && x<z) ? x : (y<x && y<z) ? y : (z<y && z<x) ? z;
        System.out.println(smallestNum + " is the smallest of the three numbers.");
    }
}

I tried to use multiple conditions in the ternary operator but that doesn't work. I was absent a few days so I'm not really sure what to do and my teacher's phone is off. Any help?

At least in my experienced, just because you *can* write chained ternary statements, doesn't mean you *should*. Also, what you have so far is very complicated, you should only need to compare the variables to one another once: `int smallest = min(min(x, y), z)`. — Juliet, Feb 13 '11 at 20:32
Math.min uses the ternary operator. the simplest is to staticly import this method and write `smalledNum = min(x, min(y, z))` — Peter Lawrey, Feb 13 '11 at 20:34
Consider modifying the assignment for the likely event when the professor makes "three" a variable. This will likely get you extra credit. — Jeff Holt, Feb 13 '18 at 20:53

score 36 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 13 '11 at 20:32

36

Try

int min = x < y ? (x < z ? x : z) : (y < z ? y : z);

You can also remove the parenthesis:

int min = x < y ? x < z ? x : z : y < z ? y : z;

answered Feb 13 '11 at 20:32

Markus Johnsson

3,949
23
30

39

Parentheses-free version looks like an entry to Obfuscated-C competition. – Jakub Zaverka Apr 23 '12 at 07:21
Why does adding extra paranthesis gives error: unexpected type `int min = x < y ? ((x < z) ? x : z) : ((y < z) ? y : z);` – sofs1 Jan 13 '17 at 20:59

score 14 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 13 '11 at 20:32

Since this is homework I'm not just going to give you the answer, but instead an algorithm so that you can work it out yourself.

First work out how to write min(x, y) using a single ternary operator.

Once you have that, change the following code for min(x, y, z) to use a ternary operator then substitute in the code for min(x, y) that you worked out from the previous step.

int min(x, y, z) {
    if (x <= y) {
        return min(x, z);
    } else {
        return min(y, z);
    }
}

corsiKa · Answer 3 · 2011-02-13T21:13:38.053

You're testing for z, when you really don't need to. Your ternary operator must be of form cond ? ifTrue : ifFalse;

so if you have multiple conditions, you have this:

cond1? ifTrue1 : cond2? if True2 : ifFalse2;

If you understand this, don't look below. If you still need help, look below.

I also included a version that doesn't nest them that is clearer (assuming you don't need to have them nested. I sure would hope your assignment doesn't require you to nest them because that's pretty ugly!)

.

Here's what I come up with:

class QuestionNine
{
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        smallest(1,2,3);
        smallest(4,3,2);
        smallest(1,1,1);
        smallest(5,4,5);
        smallest(0,0,1);
    }

    public static void smallest(int x, int y, int z) {
        // bugfix, thanks Mark! 
        //int smallestNum = (x<y && x<z) ? x : (y<x && y<z) ? y :  z;
        int smallestNum = (x<=y && x<=z) ? x : (y<=x && y<=z) ? y :  z;
        System.out.println(smallestNum + " is the smallest of the three numbers.");
    }

    public static void smallest2(int x, int y, int z) {
       int smallest = x < y ? x : y; // if they are equal, it doesn't matter which
       smallest = z < smallest ? z : smallest;
       System.out.println(smallest + " is the smallest of the three numbers.");
    }
}

Marek · Answer 4 · 2015-06-18T21:11:00.140

2

I know it's late. Just for information this also works:

int smallestNum = (x<y ? x : (x=y)) < z ? x : z

edited Jun 18 '15 at 21:11

answered Jun 18 '15 at 20:59

Marek

21
3

It's mutating the data, though, but I can see this working – Mike Warren Feb 01 '18 at 00:40

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 13 '11 at 23:49

2

public static int min(int x, int y, int z) {
    return x<y?Math.min(x, z):Math.min(y, z);           
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
    int smallestNum = min(10, 12, 15);
    System.out.println(smallestNum);
}

answered Feb 13 '11 at 23:49

lukastymo

26,145
14
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66

I like this implementation. Let the libraries do the work – loadedion Jun 18 '15 at 21:17

score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Apr 23 '12 at 07:15

1

My solution:

public static void main(String args[])
{
    int x = 1, y = 2, z = 3;
    int smallestNum = (x < y && x < z) ? x :
        (y < x && y < z) ? y :
        (z < y && z < x) ? z:y;
    System.out.println(smallestNum + " is the smallest of the three numbers.");
}

edited Apr 23 '12 at 07:15

eeerahul

1,629
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answered Apr 23 '12 at 03:14

muthukumar

2,233
3
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30

Edward J Beckett · Answer 7 · 2018-02-13T20:46:45.950

1

My contribution ...

public static int getSmallestNumber( int x, int y, int z) {

     return x < y && x < z ? x : y < x && y < z ? y : z;
}

public static void main ( String ... args ) {

    System.out.println( getSmallestNumber( 123, 234, 345 ) );
}

edited Feb 13 '18 at 20:46

answered Nov 03 '12 at 01:58

Edward J Beckett

5,061
1
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Returns 2 when it is called with parameters (3,2,1) – fthdgn Feb 13 '18 at 04:14
@fthdgn ~ Good Catch... Fixed. – Edward J Beckett Feb 13 '18 at 20:47

score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Feb 13 '11 at 20:32

1

The last part: (z<y && z<x) ? z is missing a ':' :

(z<y && z<x) ? z : some_value;

answered Feb 13 '11 at 20:32

extraneon

23,575
2
47
51

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jul 28 '21 at 10:25

public static void main(String args[]) {
    Scanner sc=new Scanner(System.in);
    System.out.println("enter the number and check heigest number of three number:-");
    int a=sc.nextInt();
    int b=sc.nextInt();
    int c=sc.nextInt();
    int max;
    max=(a>b&&a>c)?a:(b>a&&b>c)?b:(c>a&&c>b)?c:(a==b&&b==c)?a:0;
    
    System.out.println("the heigest number is:"+max);

Mike Warren · Answer 10 · 2018-01-31T22:04:36.930

0

This answer is coming in seven years late, so I'll just give you the code:

int smallestNumber = (x > y) ? 
            ((y > z) ? z : y) : 
            ((x > z) ? z : x);

The indentation should explain the code, which is simply a ternary that evaluates other ternaries on the initial condition x > y; /* the first ternary gets evaluated if that condition is true, else the second one gets evaluated. */

edited Jan 31 '18 at 22:04

answered Jan 31 '18 at 21:52

Mike Warren

3,796
5
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score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Oct 31 '20 at 17:01

0

you missed the value after z var smallestNum = (x<y && x<z) ? x : (y<x && y<z) ? y : (z<y && z<x) ? z:0; Try this, it works

answered Oct 31 '20 at 17:01

Mm Mmm

1

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Feb 01 '22 at 11:45

0

public class questionNine{
  public static void main(String args[]){
    int x = 1, y = 2, z = 3;
    int smallestNum =  (x<y && x<z) ? x : ((y < x && y<z) ? y : z);
    System.out.println(smallestNum);
  }
}

answered Feb 01 '22 at 11:45

Sushant

1

score -1 · Answer 13 · answered Feb 22 '14 at 07:01

-1

best way to do this is to make an example using if and else statement and then apply the ternary operators on it (q

answered Feb 22 '14 at 07:01

teena

1

1

Please add some more details in your answer – The Hungry Dictator Feb 22 '14 at 07:24

score -1 · Answer 14 · answered Feb 13 '11 at 20:36

-1

int min = (x<y)?((x<z)?x:z):((y<z)?y:z);

answered Feb 13 '11 at 20:36

Marcin Michalski

1,266
13
17

Multiple conditions in ternary operators

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