Example: Find Middle Max and Min in C++

// Find Middle Max and Min
#include <iostream>    // Required for input/output operations
#include <vector>      // Required for using std::vector
#include <algorithm>   // Required for std::sort

int main() {
    std::vector<int> numbers; // Step 1: Declare a vector to store user input
    int num;

    std::cout << "Enter integers (enter a non-integer or Ctrl+D/Z to stop):\n";

    // Step 2: Read integers from user input until an invalid input is given
    while (std::cin >> num) {
        numbers.push_back(num);
    }

    // Clear error flags and ignore remaining input in the buffer
    std::cin.clear();
    // std::cin.ignore(std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max(), '\n'); // Might be needed if using std::getline later

    // Step 3: Check if there are enough numbers to find distinct middle values
    if (numbers.size() < 2) {
        if (numbers.empty()) {
            std::cout << "No numbers entered. Cannot find middle max/min.\n";
        } else {
            std::cout << "Only one number entered: " << numbers[0]
                      << ". Middle max and min are both: " << numbers[0] << "\n";
        }
        return 0;
    }

    // Step 4: Sort the vector in ascending order
    std::sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end());

    // Step 5: Calculate indices for middle minimum and maximum
    // For a vector of size N, indices are 0 to N-1.
    // Middle minimum is at index (N/2) - 1
    // Middle maximum is at index (N/2)
    size_t mid_min_index = (numbers.size() / 2) - 1;
    size_t mid_max_index = (numbers.size() / 2);

    // Step 6: Retrieve and print the middle maximum and minimum values
    int middle_min_value = numbers[mid_min_index];
    int middle_max_value = numbers[mid_max_index];

    std::cout << "\nSorted numbers: ";
    for (int n : numbers) {
        std::cout << n << " ";
    }
    std::cout << "\n";

    std::cout << "Middle Minimum Value: " << middle_min_value << "\n";
    std::cout << "Middle Maximum Value: " << middle_max_value << "\n";

    return 0;
}