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

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.