To determine the maximum value (lines 60–73 of Fig. 6.3), we begin with the assumption that parameter x
contains the largest value, so line 62 of function maximum
declares local variable maximumValue
and initializes it with the value of parameter x
. Of course, it’s possible that parameter y
or z
contains the actual largest value, so we must compare each of these values with maximumValue
. The if
statement in lines 65–66 determines whether y
is greater than maximumValue
and, if so, assigns y
to maximumValue
. The if
statement in lines 69–70 determines whether z
is greater than maximumValue
and, if so, assigns z
to maximumValue
. At this point the largest of the three values is in maximumValue
, so line 72 returns that value to the call in line 56. When program control returns to the point in the program where maximum
was called, maximum
’s parameters x
, y
and z
are no longer accessible to the program.
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