{"id":"getheight-sentinel-neg1","text":"`getHeight` in balanced-binary-tree returns exactly `-1` as a sentinel for any unbalanced subtree and never any other negative value; non-negative returns represent actual heights.","truth_value":"IN","source":"entries/2026/06/06/balanced-binary-tree-solution.md","source_url":"","source_hash":"","justifications":[],"dependents":["sentinel-initialization-encodes-boundary-conditions"],"metadata":{},"created_at":"","updated_at":"","reviewed_at":"","verified_at":"","retracted_at":"","explanation":{"steps":[{"node":"getheight-sentinel-neg1","truth_value":"IN","reason":"premise"}]}}