More efficient way of doing this? (java exercise)

[Arnoldjavs3]

Homework Statement

Given 2 int arrays, a and b, of any length, return a new array with the first element of each array. If either array is length 0, ignore that array.

front11([1, 2, 3], [7, 9, 8]) → [1, 7]
front11([1], [2]) → [1, 2]
front11([1, 7], []) → [1]

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

public int[] front11(int[] a, int[] b) {
  if (a.length>=1 && b.length>=1) {
    return new int[] {a[0], b[0]};
  }
  else if(b.length==0 && a.length>0) {
    return new int[] {a[0]};
  }
  else if(b.length>1 && a.length==0) {
    return new int[] {b[0]};
  }
  return new int[] {};
}

Is there a more efficient way of doing this without having to check the length of both arrays?

 

[mfb]

Can java increase the size of arrays easily? You could initialize an array, then add a[0] to it if a.length>0, then add b[0] to it if b.length>0.

 

[Arnoldjavs3]

Can java increase the size of arrays easily? You could initialize an array, then add a[0] to it if a.length>0, then add b[0] to it if b.length>0.

Is the bolded a hint ? Since arrays are of fixed lengths. I was just thinking as I was doing these challenges that writing a bunch of if statements felt a little too trivial and not challenging...

 

[mfb]

Is the bolded a hint ?

No, it was a question. I never worked with Java. I know some languages can do that easily (e.g. PHP, JS and python), while in some others it is not advisable (e.g. C++) or completely impossible.

If an array cannot change size, your solution should be the easiest option.