Find the Smallest of Three Numbers Program

Find the Smallest of three Numbers in C, C++, Java, JavaScript, and Python. In the world of programming, solving problems is a fundamental skill that every coder must possess. Whether you’re a Java enthusiast, a C++ aficionado, or a Python wizard, mastering this skill is crucial. In this article, we will walk you through a step-by-step guide to finding the smallest of three numbers in Java, C++, and Python. So, let’s dive in and explore how to tackle this problem efficiently using a well-structured 6-step strategy.

Find the Smallest of Three Numbers:

Sure, Here’s the 6-step strategy to Solve this problem:-

Step 1. Understand the problem:

Before diving into coding, let’s ensure we understand the problem. We want to write a program that takes three numbers as input and finds the smallest among them.

Step 2. Design test data/test cases:

To ensure our program works correctly, let’s design some test cases:

Test Case 1:
Input: 5, 2, 8
Expected Output: 2 Test Case 2:
Input: 10, 10, 10
Expected Output: 10 Test Case 3:
Input: -3, 0, -1
Expected Output: -3

Step 3. Derive the solution (write pseudocode for the solution):

We’ll start by writing pseudocode to outline our solution:

   FUNCTION findSmallest(a, b, c)
       IF a <= b AND a <= c
           RETURN a
       ELSE IF b <= a AND b <= c
           RETURN b
       ELSE
           RETURN c
   END FUNCTION

Step 4. Test the solution

(do a dry run of the pseudocode for the test data and confirm it works): 

Let's dry run the pseudocode with the first test case:
a = 5, b = 2, c = 8
Is 5 <= 2? No. Is 5 <= 8? Yes. 
Return 5.

Step 5. Write the program/code:

Now that we have a clear understanding of the logic, we can write the code in our preferred programming language.

Program to Find the Smallest of Three Numbers in C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python

C
#include <stdio.h>

double findSmallest(double a, double b, double c) {
    if (a <= b && a <= c) {
        return a;
    } else if (b <= a && b <= c) {
        return b;
    } else {
        return c;
    }
}

int main() {
    double num1, num2, num3;
    
    printf("Enter three numbers:\n");
    scanf("%lf %lf %lf", &num1, &num2, &num3);

    double smallest = findSmallest(num1, num2, num3);

    printf("The smallest number is: %lf\n", smallest);

    return 0;
}
C

C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

double findSmallest(double a, double b, double c) {
    if (a <= b && a <= c) {
        return a;
    } else if (b <= a && b <= c) {
        return b;
    } else {
        return c;
    }
}

int main() {
    double num1, num2, num3;
    
    cout << "Enter three numbers:" << endl;
    cin >> num1 >> num2 >> num3;

    double smallest = findSmallest(num1, num2, num3);

    cout << "The smallest number is: " << smallest << endl;

    return 0;
}
C++

Java
import java.util.Scanner;

public class SmallestNumberFinder {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);

        System.out.println("Enter three numbers:");
        double num1 = scanner.nextDouble();
        double num2 = scanner.nextDouble();
        double num3 = scanner.nextDouble();

        double smallest = findSmallest(num1, num2, num3);

        System.out.println("The smallest number is: " + smallest);

        scanner.close();
    }

    public static double findSmallest(double a, double b, double c) {
        if (a <= b && a <= c) {
            return a;
        } else if (b <= a && b <= c) {
            return b;
        } else {
            return c;
        }
    }
}
Java

JavaScript
function findSmallest(a, b, c) {
    if (a <= b && a <= c) {
        return a;
    } else if (b <= a && b <= c) {
        return b;
    } else {
        return c;
    }
}

const readline = require('readline').createInterface({
    input: process.stdin,
    output: process.stdout
});

readline.question('Enter three numbers: ', input => {
    const [num1, num2, num3] = input.split(' ').map(Number);
    const smallest = findSmallest(num1, num2, num3);
    console.log(`The smallest number is: ${smallest}`);
    readline.close();
});
JavaScript

Python
def find_smallest(a, b, c):
    if a <= b and a <= c:
        return a
    elif b <= a and b <= c:
        return b
    else:
        return c

num1, num2, num3 = map(float, input("Enter three numbers: ").split())
smallest = find_smallest(num1, num2, num3)
print("The smallest number is:", smallest)
Python

Step 6: Test the Code:


Compile and run the program. Test it with the provided test cases to ensure it produces the correct output.

Notes IDE

Find the Smallest of three Numbers | Conclusion:


Congratulations! You’ve successfully learned how to find the smallest number among three using Java. You followed a step-by-step approach, from understanding the problem to writing and testing the code. This foundational skill will serve as a building block as you continue your coding journey.

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