Code Challenge: Arrays - Methods Part 2 - Question 2 of 2

This seems a bit complex! You just need to do the same as Jim does with the function, but refer to the length of a and b.

saying2.sort(function (a, b){return a.length - b.length});

I got a slightly stuck on this challenge as well. I realized you don't need to add if or else statements, since the challenge at this stage is all about learning the use of methods which are available in JS Take a close look at the code Jim uses in video before the challenge.

myArray.sort(function (a, b){
        return a - b;
             });

Hint: This code to this will work by adding the .length property in a particular set of places.

The code you typed will most likely return null, as length is a variable that hasn't been instantiated in the inline function.

To create your own sort method:

1. Create a new function that accepts 2 arguments.
2. Compare the length of the two arguments, if the first one is shorter than the second one, return -1. If the first one is longer than the second one, return 1. If they are of equal length, return 0.
3. Set the sort method of the array to your custom function.

This article (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1129216/sorting-objects-in-an-array-by-a-field-value-in-javascript) should give you what you need. :)

Still running into problems...

This is the latest.

 <script>
      var saying1 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumps", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog"];
      var saying2 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumped", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog's", "back"];
      saying1.reverse();
      saying2.sort(function(a, b) {return (a.length < b.length) });
    </script>

Error message keeps saying that I had the wrong order. Thoughts?

I believe you are returning the wrong value in the sort function. True evaluates to 1, false evaluates to 0. This means that you're not considering -1.

Given your code, if a is shorter than b, it would return 1, but that is contrary to how the sort function works. It expects a 1 if a is longer than b. So, I would write out the if .. else if to cover all three scenarios.

• a > b => 1
• a == b => 0
• a < b => -1

I am now beyond confused lol. Since it's intro to js, I'm hoping that I'm just overthinking this...

<script>
      var saying1 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumps", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog"];
      var saying2 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumped", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog's", "back"];
      saying1.reverse();
      saying2.sort(function (a, b, c) {return (a.length < b.length) ; return (a.length > b.length) ; return (a.length === b.length)};
    </script>

Now it says task 1 is no longer passing. I'm failing miserably here...do you know the answer so I can work my way backwards?

No worries, you're making progress. If you look at your code, you don't have any if-statements. Basically it will always return 1 or 0, so that won't work. Here's some pseudo-code to illustrate what needs to be in the braces of the custom sort function:

• Check if a is shorter than b, and if so return -1.
• Check if a is the same length as b, of so return 0.
• Return 1, as this will only be reached if the other two conditions are false.

The reason Task 1 failed is because you have 3 return statements without any conditions around them.

Also, the function only accepts 2 arguments, yet you are accepting 3: a, b, c. Remove c.

You may want to review how functions work, if this area is unclear to you: http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Javascript-Fundamentals-Development-for-Absolute-Beginners/JavaScript-Functions-07

<script>
      var saying1 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumps", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog"];
      var saying2 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumped", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog's", "back"];
      saying1.reverse();
      saying2.sort(function (a, b, c) {
        (if a.length > b.length) return 1, (else if a.length < b.length) return 0, (else a.length === b.length)
        return -1 });
    </script>;

Hands in the air...i quit.

tried taking away the "c" too...

   <script>
      var saying1 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumps", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog"];
      var saying2 = ["The", "quick", "brown", "fox", "jumped", "over", "the", "lazy", "dog's", "back"];
      saying1.reverse();
      saying2.sort(function (a,b) (if a.length > b.length return 1), (else a.length < b.length return 0), 
                   (else if a.length === b.length return -1) });
    </script>

Thanks for the help, Mike! The problem I was having was that I didn't see it in the last video. What you shared made total sense!

Happy New year!

Well I also had some probs with this excercises, thanks alot to Kyle and Mike, I had the right if statements but had prob with the numbers and letters!!

Made my day thanks

I have just recently started the Javascript module (The one I was least looking forward to working on) and I, too, was having trouble with this particular task. When reading through this thread it was not helping clear up my 'lack-of' understanding regarding this. Until the very end, that is. Lauren, the code you posted not only was as clear to read (I think that may be due to it being just one line and not a block) but instantaneously made me understand. So for that, thank you.

• MjA -