Finds maximum/minimum value between two signed integers without the use of conditionals

max_val.c

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>

#define INT_SHIFT ( (sizeof(int) - 1) * 4 )

int max_val( int a, int b )
{
  int *val_ptrs[2] = {&a, &b};
  
  int difference_bit = ( ( *val_ptrs[0] - *val_ptrs[1] ) & 
                           (const int)( 8 << INT_SHIFT ) 
                        ) >> (const int)( 3 + INT_SHIFT );
  
  return *val_ptrs[difference_bit];
}

int min_val( int a, int b )
{
  int *val_ptrs[2] = {&a, &b};
  
  int difference_bit = ( ( *val_ptrs[1] - *val_ptrs[0] ) & 
                           (const int)( 8 << INT_SHIFT ) 
                        ) >> (const int)( 3 + INT_SHIFT );
  
  return *val_ptrs[difference_bit];
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  int a=0, b=0;
    
  a = atoi( argv[1] );
  b = atoi( argv[2] );
    
  printf("%d\n", max_val( a, b ) );
    
  printf("%d\n", min_val( a, b ) );
    
  return 0;

}