How to write this JavaScript function properly?

Question

Currently learning web development, after completing HTML/CSS I'm now in JavaScript fundamentals (boy is it way tougher than the first two!), and in this practice project I'm looking to grab the absolute values of userGuess - secretActualNumber and computerGuess - secretActualNumber, and then compare them to see which one is closer to the secret number. So far I've tried this.

const compareGuesses = (userGuess , computerGuess, secretActualNumber) => {
 Math.abs(userGuess-secretActualNumber);
 Math.abs(computerGuess-secretActualNumber);
}

In order to compare both of those, I was thinking I need to implement the "difference" function of JS. But I've been struggling to make use that, to compare these two items, and to then result in a true/false. (true being if the user is closer, and false if the computer is closer).

Let me know what you think!

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Save results to variables and then compare them:

const compareGuesses = (userGuess, computerGuess, secretActualNumber) => {
 var userDiff = Math.abs(userGuess-secretActualNumber);
 var computerDiff = Math.abs(computerGuess-secretActualNumber);
 return userDiff <= computerDiff;
}

Answer 2

This will return true only if the user is closer.

const compareGuesses = (userGuess , computerGuess, secretActualNumber) =>
 Math.abs(userGuess-secretActualNumber) < Math.abs(computerGuess-secretActualNumber);

You'll want to use <= instead of < if you want it to return true when equal.

const compareGuesses = (userGuess , computerGuess, secretActualNumber) =>
 Math.abs(userGuess-secretActualNumber) <= Math.abs(computerGuess-secretActualNumber);

• abdullahrathore: Hi there. If they are equal, I'd like the user to return true! What else would need to be adjusted to account for that?
• user120242: Math.abs(userGuess-secretActualNumber) < Math.abs(computerGuess-secretActualNumber) to Math.abs(userGuess-secretActualNumber) <= Math.abs(computerGuess-secretActualNumber)