* @param b second value to compare.
   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> using the given
   *     comparator.
   * @since 30.0
   */
  @ParametricNullness
  public static <T extends @Nullable Object> T max(
      @ParametricNullness T a, @ParametricNullness T b, Comparator<? super T> comparator) {

    // Pretend the comparator can compare anything. If it turns out it can't
    // compare a and b, we should get a CCE or NPE on the subsequent line. Only methods
    // that are spec'd to throw CCE and NPE should call this.
    @SuppressWarnings({"unchecked", "nullness"})
    Comparator<@Nullable Object> unsafeComparator = (Comparator<@Nullable Object>) comparator;
    return unsafeComparator.compare(a, b);
  }

 * Comparator} or {@link Comparable} type whose comparison behavior is <i>inconsistent with
 * equals</i>. That is, {@code a.compareTo(b)} or {@code comparator.compare(a, b)} should equal zero
 * <i>if and only if</i> {@code a.equals(b)}. If this advice is not followed, the resulting map will
 * not correctly obey its specification.
 *
 * <p>See the Guava User Guide article on <a href=

  }

  private static final class DecreasingCount implements Comparator<Entry<?>> {
    static final Comparator<Entry<?>> INSTANCE = new DecreasingCount();

    @Override
    public int compare(Entry<?> entry1, Entry<?> entry2) {
      return entry2.getCount() - entry1.getCount(); // subtracting two nonnegative integers
    }
  }

  /**

      Predicate<? super K> keyPredicate) {
    return compose(keyPredicate, Maps.<K>keyFunction());
  }

  static <V extends @Nullable Object> Predicate<Entry<?, V>> valuePredicateOnEntries(
      Predicate<? super V> valuePredicate) {
    return compose(valuePredicate, Maps.<V>valueFunction());
  }

  /**

    }

    /**
     * Configures this {@code Builder} to order entries by value according to the specified
     * comparator.
     *
     * <p>The sort order is stable, that is, if two entries have values that compare as equivalent,
     * the entry that was inserted first will be first in the built map's iteration order.
     *
     * @throws IllegalStateException if this method was already called
     * @since 19.0
     */

    }

    /**
     * Configures this {@code Builder} to order entries by value according to the specified
     * comparator.
     *
     * <p>The sort order is stable, that is, if two entries have values that compare as equivalent,
     * the entry that was inserted first will be first in the built map's iteration order.
     *
     * @throws IllegalStateException if this method was already called
     * @since 19.0
     */

   * instead (but note that it does not guarantee which tied minimum element is returned).
   *
   * @param a value to compare, returned if less than or equal to the rest.
   * @param b value to compare
   * @param c value to compare
   * @param rest values to compare
   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
   *     ordering.
   */
  @ParametricNullness

    if (set.comparator() != null
        && set.comparator() != Ordering.natural()
        && range.hasLowerBound()
        && range.hasUpperBound()) {
      checkArgument(
          set.comparator().compare(range.lowerEndpoint(), range.upperEndpoint()) <= 0,
          "set is using a custom comparator which is inconsistent with the natural ordering.");
    }
    if (range.hasLowerBound() && range.hasUpperBound()) {

    private final int value;

    ClassWithTerribleHashCode(int value) {
      this.value = value;
    }

    @Override
    public int compareTo(ClassWithTerribleHashCode that) {
      return Integer.compare(this.value, that.value);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean equals(@Nullable Object x) {
      return x instanceof ClassWithTerribleHashCode
          && ((ClassWithTerribleHashCode) x).value == value;