+ /** \
+ * The (typeof(_a)) cast in necessary: \
+ * result type of conditional expressions is \
+ * *NOT* the type of the value returned but \
+ * the type that would be produced if _a and _b \
+ * were mixed in an expression. \
+ * Even in _a and _b are of the same type, \
+ * if mixed in an expression the type will be \
+ * promoted to int! \
+ */ \
+ ((typeof(_a))((_a < _b) ? _a : _b)); \