/*********************************************************************
 * Author:        Eric Heim
 * Date Created:  6/30/2011
 * Course:        CS0007
 * Description:   Uses the minimum method to find the minimum element
 *                of an array.
 *********************************************************************/
public class MethodDoc {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		//Array of numbers whose minimum will be found
		int[] numbers = {75, 65, 24, 11, 45, 32, 22, 3, 54, 5};
		
		//Display the minimum number in the array by calling the
		//minimum method
		System.out.println("The minimum number in the array is " + minimum(numbers));
	}
	
	/*********************************************************************
	 * Method Name:   minimum
	 * Parameters:    minArray - Array whose minimum will be found
	 * Returns:       The minimum element in the array
	 * Description:   Loops through the array and returns the smallest
	 *                element
	 *********************************************************************/
	public static int minimum(int [] minArray) {
		int champion;
		//If the array is empty, then just return the smallest value
		//possible
		if(minArray.length == 0) {
			champion = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
		}
		else {
			//initialize the smallest element to the first element
			champion = minArray[0];
			//Loop through the array and if the current element is smaller
			//then the smallest element seen so far, replace the champion
			//with the new smallest element seen so far
			for(int i = 1; i < minArray.length; i++) {
				if(minArray[i] < champion) {
					champion = minArray[i];
				}
			}
		}
		
		//returns the smallest element in the array
		return champion;
	}
}