Basic Algorithm Scripting - Where do I Belong

JavaScript
1

I googled a solution for the lesson but i am trying to understand the code written below
Describe your issue in detail here.

function getIndexToIns(arr, num) {
    var i;
    arr.sort(function(a, b){
        return a - b;
    });
    for (i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
        if (arr[i] > num) {
            return i;
        }
    }
    return arr.length;
}

console.log(getIndexToIns([10, 20, 30, 40, 50], 35)); // 3
console.log(getIndexToIns([1, 2, 3, 4], 1.5));        // 1
console.log(getIndexToIns([20, 3, 5], 19));           // 2
console.log(getIndexToIns([4, 3, 2, 1], 5));          // 4`

function getIndexToIns(arr, num) {
  return num;
}

getIndexToIns([40, 60], 50);

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Challenge: Basic Algorithm Scripting - Where do I Belong

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2

my questionis what does the parameters a and b represent inside the sort function?

3

Have you looked up the sort function? Searching “MDN sort javascript” gives me

4

ok looked it over i just dont understand return a-b. does that mean that it is returning the difference of the two parameters?

5

Yes. And what does this part say that the return value means?

(Specifically you want the table)

6

Yes, look at the table.

a - b returns the difference, but the specific amount doesn’t matter, only whether that value is positive, negative, or zero.

If a - b returns a negative value, then it logically means that a is a smaller number than b, so their order remains unchanged [smaller value should come first].

If a - b returns a positive value, then it logically means that a is a larger number than b, so their order is switched [larger value should come second].

If a - b returns zero, then they are left alone, as it doesn’t matter which one comes first.

The sort() function iterates over all the indexes of the array, two items at a time, and switches their order by using the returned value [positive, negative, or zero] to determine whether a or b is the larger value. It switches them only if a - b returns a positive value.

7

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