Fix the maximum (bad initial value)

Challenge

Fix an initialisation bug that only surfaces on certain inputs.

Task

The starter code for int find_max(const int *a, int n) is meant to return the largest element, but it initialises the running maximum to 0. That is wrong for all-negative arrays (it would return 0 instead of the real maximum). Fix it to seed the maximum from a[0] so it works for any inputs. You may assume n >= 1. No main — the grader calls it.

Input

A pointer a to n ints, and the count int n (n >= 1).

Output

Returns the largest element, as an int.

Example

find_max({-5,-2,-9}, 3)   ->   -2
find_max({3,7,1}, 3)      ->   7

Edge cases

• All-negative arrays must return the largest negative value, not 0.

Rules

• Seed the running maximum from a real element (a[0]), not from 0.

Input format

A pointer a to n ints, and the count int n (n >= 1).

Output format

The largest element, as an int.

Constraints

n >= 1; initialise the max from a[0], not 0.

Starter code

int find_max(const int *a, int n) {
    int m = 0;  /* BUG: wrong for all-negative arrays */
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
        if (a[i] > m) m = a[i];
    return m;
}