#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
using ll = long long;
using ld = long double;
using str = string;
using pi = pair<int, int>;
using pl = pair<ll, ll>;
using pd = pair<ld, ld>;
using vi = vector<int>;
using vb = vector<bool>;
using vl = vector<ll>;
using vd = vector<ld>;
using vs = vector<str>;
using vpi = vector<pi>;
using vpl = vector<pl>;
using vpd = vector<pd>;
str Tout[2] = {"NO", "YES"};
str tout[2] = {"No", "Yes"};
int main() {
  ll n, k;
  cin >> n >> k;
  ll a[n + 17];
  for (int i = (0); i < (n); i++) cin >> a[i];
  if (k == 2) {
    cout << max(a[0], a[n - 1]);
    return 0;
  }
  sort(a, a + n);
  if (k == 1)
    cout << a[0];
  else
    cout << a[n - 1];
  return 0;
}
