Not a solution, just advices.
Quote:
I've been pulling my hair trying to understand this teacher's horrible directions.
There is nothing horrible in this requirement, just may be a little more complicated than usual.
In fact this requirement is nowhere as complicated as real life requirements. You just have to organize things, there is no trap, the whole requirement makes sense.
Quote:
eacher for help (he said to just read it again), haven't attempted it due to lack of understanding.
This kind of attitude is promising you hard days in future.
In fact it is a very sensible advice, when you don't understand something, read again, organize what you understood, and repeat when necessary.
When you are really stuck, ask for help on what you have difficulties.
As programmer, it is your job to analyze requirements and make sense of them. When something is inconsistent, expose the problem and ask for clarifications.