#!/usr/bin/perl 
my %files=%{{1=>"a", 2=>"b", 34=>"c", 5=>"d", 6=>"e", 7=>"f", 8=>"g", 9=>"h"}};
my $max;
print join(" ",keys %files),"\n";
grep($max=($_>$max)?$_:$max,keys %files);

print "<$max>\n";

##</code><code>##

perl /tmp/foo 
6 8 1 34 7 9 2 5
<34>