In this article, I’m going to explain how to solve Free Code Camp’s “Return Largest Numbers in Arrays” challenge. This involves returning an array with the largest numbers from each of the sub arrays.

There are the three approaches I’ll cover:

with a FOR loop using the reduce() method using Math.max()

The Algorithm Challenge Description

Return an array consisting of the largest number from each provided sub-array. For simplicity, the provided array will contain exactly 4 sub-arrays.



Remember, you can iterate through an array with a simple for loop, and access each member with array syntax arr[i].

function largestOfFour(arr) { return arr; } largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]);

Provided test cases

largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]) should return an array. largestOfFour([[13, 27, 18, 26], [4, 5, 1, 3], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]) should return [27,5,39,1001]. largestOfFour([[4, 9, 1, 3], [13, 35, 18, 26], [32, 35, 97, 39], [1000000, 1001, 857, 1]]) should return [9, 35, 97, 1000000].

Approach #1: Return the Largest Numbers in a Array With a For Loop

Here’s my solution, with embedded comments to help you understand it:

function largestOfFour(arr) { // Step 1. Create an array that will host the result of the 4 sub-arrays var largestNumber = [0,0,0,0]; // Step 2. Create the first FOR loop that will iterate through the arrays for(var arrayIndex = 0; arrayIndex < arr.length; arrayIndex++) { /* The starting point, index 0, corresponds to the first array */ // Step 3. Create the second FOR loop that will iterate through the sub-arrays for(var subArrayIndex = 0; subArrayIndex < arr[arrayIndex].length; subArrayIndex++) { /* The starting point, index 0, corresponds to the first sub-array */ if(arr[arrayIndex][subArrayIndex] > largestNumber[arrayIndex]) { largestNumber[arrayIndex] = arr[arrayIndex][subArrayIndex]; /* FOR loop cycles arrayIndex => i subArrayIndex => j Iteration in the first array For each iteration: arr[i][j] largestNumber[i] if arr[i][j] > largestNumber[i]? then largestNumber[i] = arr[i][j] First iteration: arr[0][0] => 4 largestNumber[0] => 0 4 > 0? => TRUE then largestNumber[0] = 4 Second iteration: arr[0][1] => 5 largestNumber[0] => 4 5 > 4? => TRUE then largestNumber[0] = 5 Third iteration: arr[0][2] => 1 largestNumber[0] => 5 1 > 5? => FALSE then largestNumber[0] = 5 Fourth iteration: arr[0][3] => 3 largestNumber[0] => 5 3 > 5? => FALSE then largestNumber[0] = 5 Fifth iteration: arr[0][4] => FALSE largestNumber[0] => 5 largestNumber = [5,0,0,0] Exit the first array and continue on the second one Iteration in the second array For each iteration: arr[i][j] largestNumber[i] if arr[i][j] > largestNumber[i]? then largestNumber[i] = arr[i][j] First iteration: arr[1][0] => 13 largestNumber[1] => 0 13 > 0? => TRUE then largestNumber[1] = 13 Second iteration: arr[1][1] => 27 largestNumber[1] => 13 27 > 13? => TRUE then largestNumber[1] = 27 Third iteration: arr[1][2] => 18 largestNumber[1] => 27 18 > 27? => FALSE then largestNumber[1] = 27 Fourth iteration: arr[1][3] => 26 largestNumber[1] => 27 26 > 27? => FALSE then largestNumber[1] = 27 Fifth iteration: arr[1][4] => FALSE largestNumber[1] => 27 largestNumber = [5,27,0,0] Exit the first array and continue on the third one Iteration in the third array For each iteration: arr[i][j] largestNumber[i] if arr[i][j] > largestNumber[i]? then largestNumber[i] = arr[i][j] First iteration: arr[2][0] => 32 largestNumber[2] => 0 32 > 0? => TRUE then largestNumber[2] = 32 Second iteration: arr[2][1] => 35 largestNumber[2] => 32 35 > 32? => TRUE then largestNumber[2] = 35 Third iteration: arr[2][2] => 37 largestNumber[2] => 35 37 > 35? => TRUE then largestNumber[2] = 37 Fourth iteration: arr[2][3] => 39 largestNumber[2] => 37 39 > 37? => TRUE then largestNumber[2] = 39 Fifth iteration: arr[2][4] => FALSE largestNumber[2] => 39 largestNumber = [5,27,39,0] Exit the first array and continue on the fourth one Iteration in the fourth array For each iteration: arr[i][j] largestNumber[i] if arr[i][j] > largestNumber[i]? then largestNumber[i] = arr[i][j] First iteration: arr[3][0] => 1000 largestNumber[3] => 0 1000 > 0? => TRUE then largestNumber[3] = 1000 Second iteration: arr[3][1] => 1001 largestNumber[3] => 1000 1001 > 1000? => TRUE then largestNumber[3] = 1001 Third iteration: arr[3][2] => 857 largestNumber[3] => 1001 857 > 1001? => FALSE then largestNumber[3] = 1001 Fourth iteration: arr[3][3] => 1 largestNumber[3] => 1001 1 > 1001? => FALSE then largestNumber[3] = 1001 Fifth iteration: arr[3][4] => FALSE largestNumber[3] => 1001 largestNumber = [5,27,39,1001] Exit the FOR loop */ } } } // Step 4. Return the largest numbers of each sub-arrays return largestNumber; // largestNumber = [5,27,39,1001]; } largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]);

And here it is without my comments:

function largestOfFour(arr) { var largestNumber = [0,0,0,0]; for(var arrayIndex = 0; arrayIndex < arr.length; arrayIndex++) { for(var subArrayIndex = 0; subArrayIndex < arr[arrayIndex].length; subArrayIndex++) { if(arr[arrayIndex][subArrayIndex] > largestNumber[arrayIndex]) { largestNumber[arrayIndex] = arr[arrayIndex][subArrayIndex]; } } } return largestNumber; } largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]);

Approach #2: Return the Largest Numbers in a Array With Built-In Functions — with map() and reduce()

For this solution, you’ll use two methods: the Array.prototype.map() method and the Array.prototype.reduce() method.

The map() method creates a new array with the results of calling a provided function on every element in this array. Using map will call a provided callback function once for each element in an array, in order, and constructs a new array from the results.

method creates a new array with the results of calling a provided function on every element in this array. Using map will call a provided callback function once for each element in an array, in order, and constructs a new array from the results. The reduce() method applies a function against an accumulator and each value of the array to reduce it to a single value.

The ternary operator is the only JavaScript operator that takes three operands. This operator is used as a shortcut for the if statement.

(currentLargestNumber > previousLargestNumber) ? currentLargestNumber : previousLargestNumber;

This can also be read as:

if (currentLargestNumber > previousLargestNumber == true) { return currentLargestNumber; } else { return previousLargestNumber; }

Here’s my solution, with embedded comments:

function largestOfFour(mainArray) { // Step 1. Map over the main arrays return mainArray.map(function (subArray){ // Step 3. Return the largest numbers of each sub-arrays => returns [5,27,39,1001] // Step 2. Grab the largest numbers for each sub-arrays with reduce() method return subArray.reduce(function (previousLargestNumber, currentLargestNumber) { return (currentLargestNumber > previousLargestNumber) ? currentLargestNumber : previousLargestNumber; /* Map process and Reduce method cycles currentLargestNumber => cLN previousLargestNumber => pLN Iteration in the first array For each iteration: cLN pLN if (cLN > pLN) ? then cLN else pLN First iteration: 4 0 4 > 0? => TRUE 4 / Second iteration: 5 4 5 > 4? => TRUE 5 / Third iteration: 1 5 1 > 5? => FALSE / 5 Fourth iteration: 3 5 3 > 5? => FALSE / 5 Fifth iteration: / 5 returns 5 Exit the first array and continue on the second one Iteration in the second array For each iteration: cLN pLN if (cLN > pLN) ? then cLN else pLN First iteration: 13 0 13 > 0? => TRUE 13 / Second iteration: 27 13 27 > 13? => TRUE 27 / Third iteration: 18 27 18 > 27? => FALSE / 27 Fourth iteration: 26 27 26 > 27? => FALSE / 27 Fifth iteration: / 27 returns 27 Exit the first array and continue on the third one Iteration in the third array For each iteration: cLN pLN if (cLN > pLN) ? then cLN else pLN First iteration: 32 0 32 > 0? => TRUE 32 / Second iteration: 35 32 35 > 32? => TRUE 35 / Third iteration: 37 35 37 > 35? => TRUE 37 / Fourth iteration: 39 37 39 > 37? => TRUE 39 / Fifth iteration: / 39 returns 39 Exit the first array and continue on the fourth one Iteration in the fourth array For each iteration: cLN pLN if (cLN > pLN) ? then cLN else pLN First iteration: 1000 0 1000 > 0? => TRUE 1000 / Second iteration: 1001 1000 1001 > 1000? => TRUE 1001 / Third iteration: 857 1001 857 > 1001 => FALSE / 1001 Fourth iteration: 1 1001 1 > 1001? => FALSE / 1001 Fifth iteration: / 1001 returns 1001 Exit the first array and continue on the fourth one */ }, 0); // 0 serves as the context for the first pLN in each sub array }); } largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]);

And here it is without comments:

function largestOfFour(mainArray) { return mainArray.map(function (subArray){ return subArray.reduce(function (previousLargestNumber, currentLargestNumber) { return (currentLargestNumber > previousLargestNumber) ? currentLargestNumber : previousLargestNumber; }, 0); }); } largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]);

Approach #3: Return the Largest Numbers in a Array With Built-In Functions — with map() and apply()

For this solution, you’ll use two methods: the Array.prototype.map() method and the Function.prototype.apply() method.

The apply() method calls a function with a given this value and arguments provided as an array (or an array-like object).

You can pass an array of arguments to a function by using the apply() method and the function will execute the items in the array.

Such functions are known as variadic functions, and they can accept any number of arguments instead of a fixed one.

The Math.max() function returns the largest of zero or more numbers, and we can pass any number of arguments.

console.log(Math.max(4,5,1,3)); // logs 5

But you can’t pass an array of numbers to the method like this​:

var num = [4,5,1,3]; console.log(Math.max(num)); // logs NaN

This is where the apply() method turns out to be useful:

var num = [4,5,1,3]; console.log(Math.max.apply(null, num)); // logs 5

Note that the first argument to apply() sets the value of ‘this’, not used in this method, so you pass null.

Now that you have a method to return the largest number in a array, you can loop through each sub-arrays with the map() method and return all largest numbers.

Here’s my solution, with embedded comments:

function largestOfFour(mainArray) { // Step 1. Map over the main arrays return mainArray.map(function(subArray) { // Step 3. Return the largest numbers of each sub-arrays => returns [5,27,39,1001] // Step 2. Return the largest numbers for each sub-arrays with Math.max() method return Math.max.apply(null, subArray); }); } largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]);

And without comments:

function largestOfFour(mainArray) { return mainArray.map(function(subArray) { return Math.max.apply(null, subArray); }); } largestOfFour([[4, 5, 1, 3], [13, 27, 18, 26], [32, 35, 37, 39], [1000, 1001, 857, 1]]);

I hope you found this helpful. This is part of my “How to Solve FCC Algorithms” series of articles on the Free Code Camp Algorithm Challenges, where I propose several solutions and explain step-by-step what happens under the hood.

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