JPStupfel/balancing-parentheses

algorithms and data structures

Bonus 1: Balancing Parentheses

Learning Goals

• Practice algorithmic problem solving

Instructions

For parentheses to be considered balanced, there must an opening parenthesis followed by a matching closing parenthesis. Given a string containing only parentheses, return the number of additional parentheses needed for the string to be considered balanced. The input string will have a minimum length of 1.

Input: '(()())'
Output: 0

Input: '()))'
Output: 2

Input: ')'
Output: 1

Use the language of your choosing. We've included starter files for some languages where you can pseudocode, explain your solution and code.

Before you start coding

1. Rewrite the problem in your own words
2. Validate that you understand the problem
3. Write your own test cases
4. Pseudocode
5. Code!

And remember, don't run our tests until you've passed your own!

How to run your own tests

Ruby

1. cd into the ruby folder
2. ruby <filename>.rb

JavaScript

1. cd into the javascript folder
2. node <filename>.js

How to run our tests

Ruby

1. cd into the ruby folder
2. bundle install
3. rspec

JavaScript

1. cd into the javascript folder
2. npm i
3. npm test