max:
  lw $t0, 0($a0) # load the first array value into t0
  li $t1, 1 # initialize the counter to one
  loop:
    beq $t1, $a1, exit #exit if we reach the end of the array
    addi $a0, $a0, 4 #increment the pointer by one word
    addi $t1, $t1, 1 #increment the loop counter
    lw $t2, 0($a0)   #store the next array value into t2
    ble $t2, $t0, end_if
    move $t0, $t2    #found a new maximum, store it in t0
  end_if:
  j loop             #repeat the loop
exit: