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JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Working With Numbers The Random Challenge Solution

What if the first number entered was larger than the second number? Would this equation still work?

Hi there!

Here is the challenge https://teamtreehouse.com/library/javascript-basics/working-with-numbers/the-random-challenge-solution

I get how the second part of the solution works, but is this assuming that the user will always input the smaller number first? Wouldnt inputting 17 and then 4 make this not work?

Thanks!

at a beginning level, it probably doesn't matter. Under real circumstances you might input validation, and a strategy for errors. The eternal undying rule in IT is don't trust user inputs.

3 Answers

So am I right in expecting this to not work when a large number is input first?

Thanks!

yeah, i looked at the equation and it can't be relied upon when the values are fed in the wrong order.

for the second input, I used this as Prompt

var higherLimit = prompt("Choose a number greater than "+ chosenNumber);

to prompt user to enter a larger number

I thought about that as well and I know it hasn't been covered yet (At least in the Web Development track), but I googled to see if there was a way to find the minimum and maximum number between two numbers with Javascript. There is. Math.min() for finding the minimum # Math.max() for finding the max # Here's my code and it works even if the user does put a larger number in first. I'm still having trouble understanding the math though :(

var inputOne = prompt("Enter a number, any number");
var inputTwo = prompt("Now the second number, please");
var bottomNumber = parseInt(inputOne);
var topNumber = parseInt(inputTwo);

var n1 = Math.min(bottomNumber, topNumber);
var n2 = Math.max(bottomNumber, topNumber);

var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * (n2-n1+1)) + n1;
var message = "<p>" + randomNumber + " is a number between " + n1 + " and " + n2 + ".</p>";
document.write(message);

Thanks Simon!