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PHP: Negation

Alongside the conjunction (AND) and disjunction (OR) operators, we often use the negation operator, too. It changes the logical value to the opposite one. It's denoted by the unary operator ! in programming.

If there's a function that checks for even numbers, then negation will allow you to check for odd numbers:

<?php

function isEven($number)
{
    return $number % 2 === 0;
}

isEven(10);  // true
!isEven(10); // false

I.e., we can just put a ! to the left of the function call and get the opposite result. Negation is a powerful tool that allows you to concisely express the desired rules in your code without having to write new functions.

What if you write it like this !!isEven(10)? Suddenly, the code will work. Double negation in logic is equivalent to no negation at all.

<?php

isEven(10);   // true
!isEven(10);  // false
!!isEven(10); // true

Instructions

In this lesson, you'll need to implement the two functions isPalindrome() and isNotPalindrome()

  1. The isPalindrome() function determines whether a word is a palindrome or not. A palindrome is a word that reads the same backwards as it does forwards.

    <?php
    
    isPalindrome('wow'); // true
    isPalindrome('mom'); // true
    isPalindrome('hexlet'); // false
    
    // You can pass upper and lower-case letters to the function
    // Therefore, you must first convert the word to lowercase strtolower()
    isPalindrome('Wow'); // true
    

    To flip a word, use the strrev() function.

  2. The isNotPalindrome() function checks that the word is NOT a palindrome:

    <?php
    
    isNotPalindrome('wow'); // false
    isNotPalindrome('mom'); // false
    isNotPalindrome('hexlet'); // true
    

    All you need is to negate the isPalindrome() function call within the isNotPalindrome() function's body.

The exercise doesn't pass checking. What to do? 😶

If you've reached a deadlock it's time to ask your question in the «Discussions». How ask a question correctly:

  • Be sure to attach the test output, without it it's almost impossible to figure out what went wrong, even if you show your code. It's complicated for developers to execute code in their heads, but having a mistake before their eyes most probably will be helpful.
In my environment the code works, but not here 🤨

Tests are designed so that they test the solution in different ways and against different data. Often the solution works with one kind of input data but doesn't work with others. Check the «Tests» tab to figure this out, you can find hints at the error output.

My code is different from the teacher's one 🤔

It's fine. 🙆 One task in programming can be solved in many different ways. If your code passed all tests, it complies with the task conditions.

In some rare cases, the solution may be adjusted to the tests, but this can be seen immediately.

I've read the lessons but nothing is clear 🙄

It's hard to make educational materials that will suit everyone. We do our best but there is always something to improve. If you see a material that is not clear to you, describe the problem in “Discussions”. It will be great if you'll write unclear points in the question form. Usually, we need a few days for corrections.

By the way, you can participate in courses improvement. There is a link below to the lessons course code which you can edit right in your browser.

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