#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;

my $first_date  = '12/14/2000';
my $second_date = '04/18/2001';

print isGreatest($first_date,$second_date);

sub isGreatest {
  # strip data into arrays
  my @date_1 = split /\//, $_[0];
  my @date_2 = split /\//, $_[1];

  # compare ordered date strings
  my $result = sprintf("%04d%02d%02d",@date_1[2,0,1])
               <=>
               sprintf("%04d%02d%02d",@date_2[2,0,1]);

  # $result is -1, 0 or 1, so amend for output
  # to return only 0 or 1;
  return ($result + $result**2)/2;
}
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(s)printf is your ally, but use it wisely. Read the (s)printf tutorial elsewhere in the monastry for a deeper insight.

cLive ;-)

Update: interesting thought chipmunk, never thought of that. d'oh!