How to Determine the Max and Min Values Read in From a Text File in Java

Question

I am doing a homework assignment for a class, and am looking for some helpful pointers, not full solutions. Basically, I have to write a Java program that reads in a text file a

Answer 1

Highest Seen So Far: -Infinity
    (or any really low number so that any number you see next will be higher)
Lowest Seen So Far: Infinity
    (or any really high number so that any number you see next will be lower)

Walk through each data point "d":
    is d higher than your latest "highest seen so far"?
        -> if yes, your new highest seen so far is now d
    is d lower than your latest "lowest seen so far"?
        -> if yes, your new lowest seen so far is now d

Your highest seen so far is now the highest data point
Your lowest seen so far is now the lowest data point

In pseudocode:

highest = -inf
lowest = inf

for d in dataset:
  if d > highest:
    highest = d
  if d < lowest:
    lowest = d

print "highest: " + highest
print "lowest: " + lowest

here is an example

let's say your dataset is 5 2 8 4

Step 0
    Highest: -inf
    Lowest: inf

Step 1
  See d = 5...that's higher than highest -inf, so new highest is 5.
  See d = 5...that's lower than lowest -inf, so new lowest is 5
    Highest: 5
    Lowest: 5

Step 2:
  See d = 2...that's not higher than highest 5...highest is still 5
  See d = 2...that is lower than lowest 5...new lowest is 2
    Highest: 5
    Lowest: 2

Step 3:
  See d = 8...that's higher than highest 5...new highest is 8
  See d = 8...that's not lower than lowest 2...lowest is still 2
    Highest: 8
    Lowest: 2

Step 4:
  See d = 4...that's not higher than highest 8...highest is still 8
  See d = 4...that's not lower than lowest 2...lowest is still 2
    Highest: 8
    Lowest: 2

Result:
    Highest: 8
    Lowest: 2