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JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Creating Reusable Code with Functions Create a max() Function

Hunter Shaw
Hunter Shaw
2,187 Points
Posted by Hunter Shaw
Hunter Shaw
2,187 Points

There was an error with your code: ReferenceError: Can't find variable: num1

I can't seem to figure this out. Could anyone help me understand this more, and maybe fix my broken code?

Thanks!

script.js 
// There was an error with your code: ReferenceError: Can't find variable: num1

function max(num1, num2) {
  var num1;
  var num2;
  return num1, num2;
}
max(5, 7);
if (num1 > num2) {
   document.write(num1);
} else {
  document.write(num2); 
}
Hunter Shaw
Hunter Shaw
2,187 Points
Hunter Shaw
Hunter Shaw
2,187 Points

The coding challenge is to get the larger number of the two. Doesn't this work?

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points

Here's a few hints and suggestions:

  • do not declare passed-in arguments as variables inside the function
  • you can only return one of the values
  • you need a comparison test to determine which value to return
  • for task 2 you will only need one more line of code after the function
  • you won't need to use "document.write" (you will use "alert" instead)
Hunter Shaw
Hunter Shaw
2,187 Points
Hunter Shaw
Hunter Shaw
2,187 Points 
function max(num1, num2) {
  var numbers = num1;
  numbers += num2;
  if (num1 > num2) {
   return num1;
} else {
    return num2; 
  }
}
max(5, 7);

/*
1. do not declare passed-in arguments as variables inside the function
2. you can only return one of the values
3. you need a comparison test to determine which value to return
4. for task 2 you will only need one more line of code after the function
5. you won't need to use "document.write" (you will use "alert" instead)
*/

Thank you so much, the suggestions helped a lot. I just didn't understand that you could have a return in the middle of the code block. I though that returns are ALWAYS on the bottom, but in this case that isn't turn. Return will end the program and the if statement is what was needed. Thanks so much! A little confusing at times but I think with some practice I will be-able to code better in no time! :)

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points

Note that you also don't need either of the lines with "numbers". It gets assigned but never used.