1. A general purpose binary microcomputer comprising: means for outputting one of a MIN operational instruction and a MAX operational instruction; an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) capable of performing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations and MIN and MAX operations, said arithmetic logic unit receiving said one of a MIN and MAX operational instruction and: (a) in response to a MIN operational instruction comparing plural items of data and selecting whichever of the plural items of data is smallest, (b) in response to a MAX operational instruction comparing plural items of data and selecting whichever of the plural items of data is largest.