Algorithm to find smallest element

[Bucs44]

I'm working on an algorithm that finds the smallest element among a, b, and c.

Here is what I have so far:

Input: a,b,c
Output: small; smallest element in the sequence a,b,c
a = 2, b = 4, c = 3
Small = a
If b < small, then small = b
If c < small, then small = c

Is this right?

 

[Dick]

How could it be wrong?

 

[Bucs44]

I'm just wondering if I worded it correct and it constitutes as an algorithm?

 

[Dick]

It's perfect.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Well, except for one thing: According to the algorithm, it gets a, b, c as input and then immediately sets a= 2, b= 4, c= 3. No matter what a, b, c are, this algorithm outputs 2!

 

[Dick]

Depends on where you think the problem statement ends and the algorithm starts. Maybe we need a new punctuation symbol here.

 

[Bucs44]

I actually added the a = 2, b = 4, c = 3 portion as I thought that was what was needed in order to perform the algorithm