First, you should be running with warnings and strict! 
#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

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This provides HUGE clues as to what might be wrong!

I think you'll find that the /\s+/ hint by graff is needed and also consider: 

$min = shift(@positions);
$max = pop(@positions);

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What happens if min and max are the same? i.e. just one position? 
$max = (@positions)[-1];
$min = (@positions)[0];

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will handle that situation.

Update: a small update, also keep in mind that list slice allows multiple values to the left hand side, my ($min,$max) = (@positions)[0,-1]; would work also. The -1 index means the last one in the array, -2 would be second to last etc. But FAR AND AWAY, the best thing you can do to improve your code is religious use of warnings and strict!

In reply to Re: New Problem by Marshall
in thread Tagging the last elements by crochunter

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