Modify an array without mutation

Question

I am trying to solve a problem which states to remove(delete) the smallest number in an array without the order of the elements to the left of the smallest element getting changed . My code is -:

function removeSmallest(numbers){
    var x =  Math.min.apply(null,numbers);
    var y = numbers.indexOf(x);
    numbers.splice(y,1);
    return numbers;
}

It is strictly given in the instructions not to mutate the original array/list. But I am getting an error stating that you have mutated original array/list . How do I remove the error?

Answer 1

Listen Do not use SPLICE here. There is great known mistake rookies and expert do when they use splice and slice interchangeably without keeping the effects in mind.

SPLICE will mutate original array while SLICE will shallow copy the original array and return the portion of array upon given conditions.

Here Slice will create a new array

const slicedArray = numbers.slice()
const result = slicedArray.splice(y,1);

and You get the result without mutating original array.

Answer 2

first create a copy of the array using slice, then splice that

function removeSmallest(numbers){
    var x =  Math.min.apply(null,numbers);
    var y = numbers.indexOf(x);
    return numbers.slice().splice(y,1);
}