#example 1, find the max element

.data
array:  .word 5, 8, 3, 2, 9
size:   .word 5

.text
.globl main
main:
    la   $t0, array      # $t0 = base address of array
    lw   $t1, size       # $t1 = size of array (5)
    li   $t2, 0          # $t2 = index (i = 0)
    lw   $t3, 0($t0)     # $t3 = max = array[0]

loop:
    addi $t2, $t2, 1     # i++
    beq  $t2, $t1, end   # if i == size, exit loop

    sll  $t4, $t2, 2     # $t4 = i * 4 (offset)
    add  $t5, $t0, $t4   # $t5 = address of array[i]
    lw   $t6, 0($t5)     # $t6 = array[i]

    # compare max ($t3) and array[i] ($t6)
    slt  $t7, $t3, $t6   # if max < array[i], $t7 = 1
    beq  $t7, $zero, loop # if not less, continue loop

    move $t3, $t6        # else, update max

    j    loop

end:
    # exit
    li $v0, 10
    syscall

----------------------------------------------------------
#example 2, find the max element and print it in console

.data
array:      .word 5, 8, 3, 2, 9
length:     .word 5
msg:        .asciiz "Max value: "

.text
.globl main

main:
    la $t0, array       # $t0 = base address of array
    lw $t1, length      # $t1 = number of elements
    lw $t2, 0($t0)      # $t2 = max = array[0]
    li $t3, 1           # $t3 = index = 1

loop:
    slt $t4, $t3, $t1   # if index < length
    beq $t4, $zero, end # if not, end loop

    sll $t5, $t3, 2     # offset = index * 4
    add $t6, $t0, $t5   # address = base + offset
    lw  $t7, 0($t6)     # $t7 = array[index]

    slt $t8, $t2, $t7   # if max < array[i]
    beq $t8, $zero, skip  # if not, skip
    move $t2, $t7       # max = array[i]

skip:
    addi $t3, $t3, 1    # index++
    j loop

end:
    # print "Max value: "
    li $v0, 4
    la $a0, msg
    syscall

    # print max value
    li $v0, 1
    move $a0, $t2
    syscall

    # exit
    li $v0, 10
    syscall