my $number=70   # I am just using 70 as an example
my $element=[
    $justanumber,    # Just a number	        
    \%values,        # This is hash previously populated
    ['',undef,[]],
    [],
];
$array[$number]=$element;

##</code><code>##

sub asubroutine   {
      $my number=shift ;   # $number takes the value of 20
      if ( not defined ($array[$number]))	{	
           print "There is no such element $number in the array.\n";
           return;
      }
      my $x=$array[$number];
      if (@{$x->[3]}>0)	{
           # Do something
     }
}

##</code><code>##

if (@{$x->[3]}>0)	{

##</code><code>##

sub asubroutine   {
      $my number=shift ;   # $number takes the value of 20
      if ( not defined ($array[$number]))	{	
           print "There is no such element $number in the array.\n";
           return;
      }
     my $x=$array[$number];
      if (defined $x->[1])  {
            if (@{$x->[3]}>0)	{
               # Do something
            }
       }
}

##</code><code>##

$array[$number] = undef,

##</code><code>##

delete $array[$number];

##</code><code>##

splice (@array,$number,1); #wipes out that element completely

##</code><code>##

splice(@tables,$number,0,undef); #inserts a new undefined value in the same element number