André Hänsel <andre@webkr.de> wrote in
<1186627664.860237.165850@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups. com>:
> since MAX() is an aggregate function, is there a "normal"
> MAX() that works like this:
>
> SELECT MAX(1,2);
> -> 2

mysql> SET @a=1;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.06 sec)

mysql> SET @b=2;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> SELECT IF(@a>@b,@a,@b);
+-----------------+
| IF(@a>@b,@a,@b) |
+-----------------+
| 2 |
+-----------------+
1 row in set (0.04 sec)

mysql> SELECT IF(@b>@a,@b,@a);
+-----------------+
| IF(@b>@a,@b,@a) |
+-----------------+
| 2 |
+-----------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

Beware of NULLs.

--
....the pleasure of obedience is pretty thin compared with
the pleasure of hearing a rotten tomato hit someone in the
rear end. -- Garrison Keillor