question: protected int countTies ( double [ ] withinDistances , int [ ] withinTies ) { int wties = 0 , running = 1 ; for ( int i = 1 ; i <= withinDistances . length ; ++ i ) { if ( i == withinDistances . length || withinDistances [ i - 1 ] != withinDistances [ i ] ) { for ( int j = i - running ; j < i ; j ++ ) { withinTies [ j ] = running ; } wties += running - 1 ; running = 1 ; } else { running ++ ; } } return wties ; }
target:  Count (and annotate) the number of tied values.