[c++] Find largest and smallest number in an array

Consider:

#include <iostream> // Include header file

using namespace std;

int main () //start of main function
{

    int values[20]; // Declares array and how many elements
    int small, big; // Declares integer
    big = small = values[0]; // Assigns element to be highest or lowest value

    for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) // Counts to 20 and prompts the user for a value and stores it
    {
        cout << "Enter value " << i << ": ";
        cin >> values[i];
    }

    for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) // Works out the biggest number
    {
        if(values[i] > big) // Compare biggest value with current element
        {
            big = values[i];
        }
    }

    for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) // Works out the smallest number
    {
        if (values[i] < small) // Compares smallest value with current element
        {
            small = values[i];
        }
    }

    cout << "The biggest number is " << big << endl; // Prints outs the biggest number
    cout << "The smallest number is " << small << endl; // Prints out the smallest number
}

This is my code so far. The problem I am having is with it printing out the biggest number of the array. Something to do with assigning the first element to the highest and lowest value. It works if I do them separately. Any suggestions?

You assign to big and small before the array is initialized, i.e., big and small assume the value of whatever is on the stack at this point. As they are just plain value types and no references, they won't assume a new value once values[0] is written to via cin >>.

Just move the assignment after your first loop and it should be fine.

big=small=values[0]; //assigns element to be highest or lowest value

Should be AFTER fill loop

//counts to 20 and prompts user for value and stores it
for ( int i = 0; i < 20; i++ )
{
    cout << "Enter value " << i << ": ";
    cin >> values[i];
}
big=small=values[0]; //assigns element to be highest or lowest value

since when you declare array - it's unintialized (store some undefined values) and so, your big and small after assigning would store undefined values too.

And of course, you can use std::min_element, std::max_element, or std::minmax_element from C++11, instead of writing your loops.

int main () //start of main fcn
{

    int values[ 20 ]; //delcares array and how many elements
    int small,big; //declares integer
     for ( int i = 0; i < 20; i++ ) //counts to 20 and prompts user for value and stores it
    {
        cout << "Enter value " << i << ": ";
        cin >> values[i];
    }
    big=small=values[0]; //assigns element to be highest or lowest value
    for (int i = 0; i < 20; i++) //works out bigggest number
    {
        if(values[i]>big) //compare biggest value with current element
        {
            big=values[i];
        }
         if(values[i]<small) //compares smallest value with current element
        {
            small=values[i];
        }
    }
     cout << "The biggest number is " << big << endl; //prints outs biggest no
    cout << "The smallest number is " << small << endl; //prints out smalles no
}

You can initialize after filling the array or you can write:

 small =~ unsigned(0)/2; // Using the bit-wise complement to flip 0's bits and dividing by 2 because unsigned can hold twice the +ve value an

integer can hold.

 big =- 1*(small) - 1;

instead of:

big = small = values[0]

because when you write this line before filling the array, big and small values will equal to a random leftover value (as integer is a POD) from the memory and if those numbers are either bigger or smaller than any other value in you array, you will get them as an output.

Unless you really must implement your own solution, you can use std::minmax_element. This returns a pair of iterators, one to the smallest element and one to the largest.

#include <algorithm>

auto minmax = std::minmax_element(std::begin(values), std::end(values));

std::cout << "min element " << *(minmax.first) << "\n";
std::cout << "max element " << *(minmax.second) << "\n";