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fmax, fmaxf, fmaxl

  • Article

Determine the larger of two specified numeric values.

Syntax

double fmax(
   double x,
   double y
);

float fmax(
   float x,
   float y
); //C++ only

long double fmax(
   long double x,
   long double y
); //C++ only

float fmaxf(
   float x,
   float y
);

long double fmaxl(
   long double x,
   long double y
);

#define fmax(X, Y) // Requires C11 or higher

Parameters

x
The first value to compare.

y
The second value to compare.

Return value

If successful, returns the larger of x or y. The value returned is exact, and doesn't depend on any form of rounding.

Otherwise, may return one of the following values:

Issue Return
x = NaN y
y = NaN x
x and y = NaN NaN

This function doesn't use the errors specified in _matherr.

Remarks

Because C++ allows overloading, you can call overloads of fmax that take and return float and long double types. In a C program, unless you're using the <tgmath.h> macro to call this function, fmax always takes and returns a double.

If you use the <tgmath.h> fmax() macro, the type of the argument determines which version of the function is selected. See Type-generic math for details.

Requirements

Function C header C++ header
fmax, fmaxf, fmaxl <math.h> <cmath> or <math.h>
fmax macro <tgmath.h>

For more compatibility information, see Compatibility.

See also

Alphabetical function reference
fmin, fminf, fminl