function result = myMin(v)
%myMin return the minimum value in a vector 
%
%  consumes:
%      v: a vector of numbers (row or column)
%  produces:
%      result: a scalar number from v, such that every element of v
%         is greater than or equal to result.
%
%  examples:
%
%       >> myMin([3 4 1 7 -2 9])
%       ans = -2
%       >> myMin([3 2 6 2 9]')
%       ans = 2
%
%P. Conrad for CISC106  Fall 2006

  % if the input is the empty vector, return an empty vector

  if length(v) < 1
    result = [];
    return;
  end;

  % start with the assumption that v(1) is the minimum element
  min = v(1);

  % precondition: min is the smallest element in elements 1 thru 1

  for k=2:length(v) % step through every element in the vector

    % invariant: min is smallest among elements 1 thru k-1

    if (v(k) < min) % see if this element is smaller than min 
      min = v(k);
    end; % end of if

    % invariant: min is smallest among all elements 1 thru k

  end; % end of for
  
  % post-condition: min is the minimum element in v

  % return the result
  result = min;
  return;

end