Thread: Finding the Biggest Element in an Array

Hi I'm really struggling with this homework assignment, I'd appreciate it if you helped me out!

this is the instruction:
Create a program called BiggestElement that will allow the user to input five integers. The program will then output the largest of the five numbers.*Include a function-type method that will return to the main method the value of the largest element in the array.*Use the length method to help determine the number of elements in the array.

My problem is that when I run the program it states the first input as the biggest element instead of the biggest number. I think its something wrong with my bubble sorting but I'm not sure.
this is my code:

**import java.io.*;
public class BiggestElement
{
public static void main (String[] args) throws IOException
{
double favNums[] = new double [6];

populate (favNums);

System.out.println ("The largest value is " + findBiggest (favNums));
} // main method


public static void populate (double favNums[]) throws IOException
{
DataInputStream input = new DataInputStream (System.in);

for (int x = 0 ; x < 5 ; x++)
{
System.out.print ("Enter any number: ");
favNums [x] = Double.parseDouble (input.readLine ());
}
} //populate class


public static double findBiggest (double favNums[])
{
double biggest = favNums [0];
double hold;

for (int x = 1 ; x < 5 ; x++)
{
if (favNums [x] > favNums[x + 1])
{
hold = favNums [x];
favNums [x] = favNums [x + 1];
favNums [x + 1] = hold;
}
}

return biggest;

} //findBiggest class
} // BiggestElement class**

How are you trying to debug the code to find the problem?
I use print statements to print out the values of variables as their values are changed and as they are used.
The print out will show you see what the computer sees and help you find the problem.
For example add this at the end of the findBiggest method to see the sorted array:

 System.out.println("favNums= " + java.util.Arrays.toString(favNums));

Please edit your post and wrap your code with code tags:

[code]
**YOUR CODE GOES HERE**
[/code]

to get highlighting and preserve formatting.

Note:The Scanner class has easier to use methods for reading numeric input from a user.

Why is there a sort for a search problem?
Can you list the steps in English that the program needs to take to search for the biggest number?
You need to have a design(list of steps) for the actions of the program before trying to write any code.

every correction i make is an error.

Please post the new code. Be sure to wrap it in code tags.