min/max of a vector with NAs and NaNs

I get this (with R-2.12 and R-2.13, didn't try with earlier versions):

max(c(NaN, NA))

[1] NA

max(c(NA, NaN))

[1] NaN

I get the same thing with min().

The fact that the result of 'max(x)' or 'min(x)' depends on the order
of the elements in 'x' is surprising. It also seems to contradict the
man page:

    By definition the min/max of a numeric vector containing an ?NaN?
    is ?NaN?, except that the min/max of any vector containing an ?NA?
    is ?NA? even if it also contains an ?NaN?.

Cheers,
H.

-- 
Herv? Pag?s

Program in Computational Biology
Division of Public Health Sciences
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
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