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JavaScript

Nathaniel Sem
Nathaniel Sem
5,870 Points
Posted by Nathaniel Sem
Nathaniel Sem
5,870 Points

Why doesn't the index value become -1?

Hi Treehouse!

I have been given this problem to solve:

Write a method that returns the "pivot" index of a list of integers.

The pivot index of a list is defined as the index where the sum of the numbers to the left of it, is equal to the sum of the numbers on the right.

Given the list [1, 4, 6, 3, 2], the method should return index 2, since the sum of the numbers to the left of index 2 (1 + 4) is equal to the sum of numbers to the right of index 2 (3 + 2). If no such index exists, it should return -1. If there are multiple pivots, you can return the left-most pivot.

Some more examples:

[ 1, 4, 1, 5, 3, 3 ] would return an index of 3, because the sum of numbers either side of index 3 add up to 6. (1 + 4 + 1 is the same as 3 + 3)

[ 8, 1, 3, 4, 1 ] would return an index of 1, because the sum of numbers either side of index 1 add up to 8. (8 is the same as 3 + 4 + 1)

[ 2, 4, 4, 2, 9 ] would return an index of -1, because there is no index in the array where the sum of numbers to the left of it are equal to the sum of numbers to the right.

So far I have this function:

function seq() {

  for(i = 0; i < sequence.length; i += 1) {

    if(sequence[i-1] + sequence[i-2] ===  sequence[i+1] + sequence[i+2]) {

      pivot = true;
      return sequence.indexOf(sequence[i]);
      break;

    }else if(pivot === false){

      return sequence.indexOf(sequence[i]);

    }
  }
}

When I ask the console to log sequence[i], it gives me the value "undefined". This is fine however, when I want to display the index of sequence[i] when pivot = false, I get nothing. Should I assume that the index is still -1, or am I doing something wrong here?

Angyal István
Angyal István
11,259 Points

Hi Nathaniel!

First problem with it, is that, if You start the for loop with i = 0 and sequence's index = i, this means the very first index of the sequence, after in the loop You write i -1 and this isnt exists, beacause the very fisrt index is 0. It makes the problem, but You need to figure out a new loop which do what you want.

Maybe a for loop inside a for loop with if -else can be the right way but i m just guess now.

Some gues for first think, You can start with a loop and check

for(i = 0; i < lenght; i +=1) {

     var leftSide = 0;

     var rightSide = 0;

     for(j = 0;  j < i; j += 1 ) {

                for (k = ( j + 1 ); k < lenght; k += 1 ) {

                           leftSide = sequence[j];

                           rightSide += sequence[k];

                           if (leftSide === rightSide) {

                                    pivot = true;

                                    return sequence.indexOf(sequence[j]);

                                    break;

                           }

                  }

        }

}

Jason Anello
Jason Anello
Courses Plus Student 94,610 Points

fixed code formatting

1 Answer

Brodey Newman
Brodey Newman
10,962 Points
Brodey Newman
Brodey Newman
10,962 Points

Are you setting pivot to be false by default? Ex: ( let pivot = false; )