Question

When I type in an array into the parameter of the javascript math minimum and maximum functions, it returns the correct value:

console.log( Math.min( 5 ) ); // 5
console.log( Math.max( 2 ) ); // 2

var array = [3, 6, 1, 5, 0, -2, 3];
var minArray = Math.min( array ); // -2
var maxArray = Math.max( array ); // 6

However, when I use the function with no parameters, it returns an incorrect answer:

console.log( Math.min() ); // Infinity
console.log( Math.max() ); // -Infinity

This one returns false:

console.log( Math.min() < Math.max() );

Why does it do this?

Answer 1

Of course it would, because the start number should be Infinity for Math.min. All number that are lower than positive infinity should be the smallest from a list, if there are no smaller.

And for Math.max it’s the same; all numbers that are larger than negative infinity should be the biggest if there are no bigger.

So for your first example:

Math.min(5) where 5 is smaller than positive infinity (Infinity) it will return 5.

Update

Calling Math.min() and Math.max with an array parameter may not work on every platform. You should do the following instead:

Math.min.apply(null, [ 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5 ]);

Where the first parameter is the scope argument. Because Math.min() and Math.max() are "static" functions, we should set the scope argument to null.