function sockMerchant(n, ar) {
        
    let pairCounter=0;
    
    while(ar.length>1){
        let color= ar.shift();
        for(let i=0; i<ar.length; i++){
            if(color===ar[i]) {
             pairCounter++;
             ar.splice(i,1);
             break;   
            }
        }
    }
    return pairCounter;
}