CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascriptalgorithmmin
user182669
user182669

Reputation:

javascript best algorithm for min() with 2 or more arguments?

I am wondering what is the best possible algorithm in JS for a min() function with two or more arguments ?

NOTE: it should work on any JS types that can be compared with ">" or "<" operators. For example:

   min( new Date(1959,6,3), new Date(1960,7,8), new Date(1925,6,9));
   /*
     should return: Thu Jul 9 00:00:00 UTC+0200 1925
   */

Thus Math.min and Math.max might not be the good candidates.

Thanks ...

EDIT: I am thinking along these lines:

   "use strict" ;
   var  d1 = new Date(1959,6,3), d2 = new Date(1960,7,8), d3 = new Date(1925,6,9) ;

   function min (a,b)
   {
    if ( arguments.length > 2 ) {
        var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0) ;
           args.shift() ;
              args[0] = min(a,b) ;
       return min.apply( this, args ) ;     
    }
    else {
            return a > b ? b : a ;
    }
   }
    min(d1,d2,d3);
   /*
    returns: Thu Jul 9 00:00:00 UTC+0200 1925
   */

Above can be optimized, but it works for 2 or more numbers and strings too. Of course inside JS intrinsic comparators rules.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 149

Answers (3)

user182669
user182669

Reputation:

Perhaps this is the optimal solution: 

   "use strict"
    var arr = create_array_of_any_scalar_type_for_testing();
    var min = arr.reduce(function(a, b) {return a < b ? a : b ; });

I also dare to think, on all modern browsers this will be the fastest solution, too. The complete packaged solution might be this:

   "use strict" ;

   function min (a,b)
   {
    if ( arguments.length > 2 ) {
        var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0) ;
        return args.reduce(function(a, b) {return a < b ? a : b ; });
    }
    else {
            return a > b ? b : a ;
    }
   }  

   /* quick test with dates */
   var  d1 = new Date(1959,6,3), d2 = new Date(1960,7,8), d3 = new Date(1925,6,9) ;

    min(d1,d2,d3);
   /*
    returns: Thu Jul 9 00:00:00 UTC+0200 1925
   */

Enjoy .

Upvotes: 0

Le_Morri
Le_Morri

Reputation: 1629

watch this fiddle:

function min(/*...args...*/){
    var len = arguments.length;

    if(len < 1)
        return null;

    var lowest = arguments[0];
    for(var i = 0; i < len; i++){
        if(arguments[i] < lowest)
            lowest = arguments[i];
    }

    return lowest;
}

the only thing is (and you should change it as needed) is that if no arguments are passed it will return NULL. THe Function can take as much arguments as you want.

Upvotes: 2

Mohammad Masoudian
Mohammad Masoudian

Reputation: 3491

i think the Min() is ok

From W3schools :

Return the number with the lowest value:

var a=Math.min(5,10);
var b=Math.min(0,150,30,20,38);
var c=Math.min(-5,10);
var d=Math.min(-5,-10);
var e=Math.min(1.5,2.5);

The result of a,b,c,d, and e will be:

5
0
-5
-10
1.5

Upvotes: 1

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