C++ Compile Error: invalid operands of types `const char[2]' and `int' to binary `operator<<'

Question

When the compiler gets here:

outFile1<<"The highest number is "<<maxnum<<", and it is located at coordinates "<<maxX<","<<maxY<<"."<<endl;

it gives the error invalid operands of types const char[2]' and int' to binary `operator<<'

Answer 1

<<maxX<","<<
       ^ missing < ?

Answer 2

As others have correctly pointed out, you have an '<' rather than '<<' in the middle of your expression. Because '<<' binds more tightly than '<', you essentially have two sub-expressions to a '<':

outFile1<<"The highest number is "<<maxnum<<", and it is located at coordinates "<<maxX

Which is fine, and:

","<<maxY<<"."<<endl

which is obviously attempting to apply operator << to a const char[2] and an integer in the first instance. Hence the slightly odd compiler error which c++ is rightly famous for.