[devplusops]

Try not to get bogged down into syntax issues. If this is homework/you are just starting out, you have two challenges:

* Identifying an algorithm to solve the problem

* Expressing the algorithm you've identified

Work out your algorithm in pseudocode/flowcharts/in your head.

Once you've clearly figured out what program you are trying to write, re-evaulate. Maybe you can slowly change your program piece-by-piece over to your intended strategy, or maybe a rewrite should be easy.

I guess what I'm saying is this: figure out what problem you have that is blocking you. It will be a lot easier to move past it once you know which part(s) of the task you are finding challenging.