Finding the max in a list - Prolog

Question

I was just introduced to Prolog and am trying to write a predicate that finds the Max value of a list of integers. I need to write one that compares from the beginning and the other that compares from the end. So far, I have:

max2([],R).
max2([X|Xs], R):- X > R, max2(Xs, X).
max2([X|Xs], R):- X <= R, max2(Xs, R).

I realize that R hasn't been initiated yet, so it's unable to make the comparison. Do i need 3 arguments in order to complete this?

Answer 1

list_max([L|Ls], Max) :- foldl(num_num_max, Ls, L, Max).

num_num_max(X, Y, Max) :- Max is max(X, Y).

%Query will be

?-list_max([4,12,5,3,8,90,10,11],Max).
Max=90

Answer 2

 maximum_no([],Max):-

    write("Maximum No From the List is:: ",Max).
maximum_no([H|T],Max):-
    H>Max,
    N = H,
    maximum_no(T,N).
maximum_no(L,Max):-
    maximum_no(L,Max).

Answer 3

my_max([], R, R). %end
my_max([X|Xs], WK, R):- X >  WK, my_max(Xs, X, R). %WK is Carry about
my_max([X|Xs], WK, R):- X =< WK, my_max(Xs, WK, R).
my_max([X|Xs], R):- my_max(Xs, X, R). %start

other way

%max of list
max_l([X],X) :- !, true.
%max_l([X],X). %unuse cut
%max_l([X],X):- false.
max_l([X|Xs], M):- max_l(Xs, M), M >= X.
max_l([X|Xs], X):- max_l(Xs, M), X >  M.

Answer 4

Ignoring the homework constraints about starting from the beginning or the end, the proper way to implement a predicate that gets the numeric maximum is as follows:

list_max([P|T], O) :- list_max(T, P, O).

list_max([], P, P).
list_max([H|T], P, O) :-
    (    H > P
    ->   list_max(T, H, O)
    ;    list_max(T, P, O)).

Answer 5

Here's how to do it with lambda expressions and meta-predicate foldl/4, and, optionally, clpfd:

:- use_module([library(lambda),library(apply),library(clpfd)]).

numbers_max([Z|Zs],Max) :- foldl(\X^S^M^(M is max(X,S)),Zs,Z,Max).
fdvars_max( [Z|Zs],Max) :- foldl(\X^S^M^(M #= max(X,S)),Zs,Z,Max).

Let's run some queries!

?- numbers_max([1,4,2,3],M).              % integers: all are distinct
M = 4.                                    % succeeds deterministically
?- fdvars_max( [1,4,2,3],M).
M = 4.                                    % succeeds deterministically

?- numbers_max([1,4,2,3,4],M).            % integers: M occurs twice 
M = 4.                                    % succeeds deterministically
?- fdvars_max( [1,4,2,3,4],M).
M = 4.                                    % succeeds deterministically

What if the list is empty?

?- numbers_max([],M).
false.
?- fdvars_max( [],M).
false.

At last, some queries showing differences between numbers_max/2 and fdvars_max/2:

?- numbers_max([1,2,3,10.0],M).           % ints + float
M = 10.0.
?- fdvars_max( [1,2,3,10.0],M).           % ints + float
ERROR: Domain error: `clpfd_expression' expected, found `10.0'

?- numbers_max([A,B,C],M).                % more general use  
ERROR: is/2: Arguments are not sufficiently instantiated
?- fdvars_max( [A,B,C],M).
M#>=_X, M#>=C, M#=max(C,_X), _X#>=A, _X#>=B, _X#=max(B,A). % residual goals

Answer 6

A very simple approach (which starts from the beginning) is the following:

maxlist([],0).

maxlist([Head|Tail],Max) :-
    maxlist(Tail,TailMax),
    Head > TailMax,
    Max is Head.

maxlist([Head|Tail],Max) :-
    maxlist(Tail,TailMax),
    Head =< TailMax,
    Max is TailMax.

As you said, you must have the variables instantiated if you want to evaluate an arithmetic expression. To solve this, first you have to make the recursive call, and then you compare.

Hope it helps!