//if this one seems simpler ??? 8-) int main() { int a = 3, b = 4, c = 5; int swap; if ( b < a ) { swap = b; b = a; a = swap; } if ( c < a ) // c goes before a { swap = c; c = b; b = a; a = swap; } else // c mid a,b { swap = c; c = b; b = swap; } cout << a << " " << b << " " << c; }