how can you find the min number in this function in javascript

Question

how can you find the min or max number in a function like this {"a",5,"h",7,true,6,"h",7}. The solution must be applicable to other kinds of functions with the same characteristic. I set min = arguments[0] but what if it's not a number? you know i was reading about functions and I read about arguments objects,which contains an array of arguments.i tried this:

function argsMin() {
  var i = 0;
  var min=arguments[0];
  for(i=0;i<arguments.length;i++) {
    if(min>arguments[i]){
      min=arguments[i];
      }
  }
  return min;   
}

document.write(argsMin(1124,562,-973,955));

now what if the first index is not a number.

What have you tried so far, where are you stuck? I assume you came across this question: [Obtain smallest value from array in Javascript?](http://stackoverflow.com/q/8934877/218196) (because that's the first result searching for [`[javascript] min number in array`](http://stackoverflow.com/search?q=%5Bjavascript%5D+min+number+in+array))... do you have troubles adapting it to your situation? — Felix Kling, Aug 29 '14 at 14:50
If you want to test whether a value is a number or not, you can use the `typeof` operator: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/typeof — Felix Kling, Aug 29 '14 at 15:07
it works fine.I don't want the max.but what if the first argument in a function is a string? — arash, Aug 29 '14 at 15:53

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 29 '14 at 15:17

Sweet and simple:`

var arr = ["a",5,"h",7,true,6,"h",7];
var min = Math.min.apply(null, arr.filter(function(el){
    return typeof el == "number";
}));
//min = 5

And for older browser that do not support filter, use you can use polyfill (https://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/filter#Compatibility)

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

0

First for each element check if (typeof element== "number") and then check this to find min JavaScript: min & max Array values?

edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

Community

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1

answered Aug 29 '14 at 14:52

koninos

4,969
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If the question is answered by linking to another questions answer, please flag this question as a duplicate instead of answering. – Sterling Archer Aug 29 '14 at 14:58
I used this link to answer part of the question, otherwise you are totally right. – koninos Aug 29 '14 at 15:01

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 29 '14 at 14:57

You can apply reduce function on the array to find min and max as followed.

min = array.reduce(function(x,y){if (typeof y === 'number' && (y<x)) return y; return x;}, Infinity)
max = array.reduce(function(x,y){if (typeof y === 'number' && (y>x)) return y; return x;}, -Infinity)

If there is no number in the array, min will contain Infinity and max will contain -Infinity

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 29 '14 at 14:58

0

  function minOfArray(array) {
    return Math.min.apply(this, array.filter(function (a) { return !isNaN(a); }));
  }

  function maxOfArray(array) {
    return Math.max.apply(this, array.filter(function (a) { return !isNaN(a); }));
  }

answered Aug 29 '14 at 14:58

Lucas Moeskops

5,445
3
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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 29 '14 at 14:59

Its actually really simple.

Just drop this inside of a loop:

Math.min(x, y);

Cycle through all of the elements and keep a variable lowest to hold the one that is lowest. Once all of the elements have been compared your lowest number will be held by the variable.

To determine if it is a number:

isFinite(String(foo).trim() || NaN)

Finally, look up "linear search" if going about this process confuses you.

Linear Search: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_search

how can you find the min number in this function in javascript

5 Answers5