Find the Smallest of Three Numbers
Solve this ProblemEasy5 min
Topics
BasicsOperatorsConditionals
Companies
TCSInfosysWipro
Given three integers
a, b and c, return the smallest of them.
The ternary operatorTernary Operatorcondition ? valueIfTrue : valueIfFalse — an if-else that produces a value and fits inside an expression. is a compact if-else that produces a value. Because a ternary is itself a value, one can sit inside another, and two nested ternaries are enough for three numbers. The if-else version is shown first, so the two can be compared directly.
Test Case 1:
Input:a = 8, b = 2, c = 6
Output:2
Explanation:b is smaller than both a and c.
Test Case 2:
Input:a = 5, b = 5, c = 5
Output:5
Explanation:When values tie, the smallest value is still 5, whichever variable it comes from.
Constraints
- ◆
-1000000 ≤ a, b, c ≤ 1000000
Try the Dry Run
Approach & Solutions
If-Else ChainGood
First ask whether a is no bigger than both b and c. If it is, a is the answer. If not, a is ruled out, and one more comparison between b and c decides which of those two is smaller.
Time
O(1)Space
O(1)Java
class Solution {
public int smallestOfThree(int a, int b, int c) {
int smallest;
if (a <= b && a <= c) {
smallest = a;
} else if (b <= c) {
smallest = b;
} else {
smallest = c;
}
return smallest;
}
}Nested Ternary OperatorOptimal
The ternary operator condition ? x : y is an if-else that produces a value, so it can be nested. The outer ternary compares a with b; the winner is then compared with c by an inner ternary. Python writes it as x if condition else y.
Time
O(1)Space
O(1)Java
class Solution {
public int smallestOfThree(int a, int b, int c) {
return a < b ? (a < c ? a : c) : (b < c ? b : c);
}
}