"The Ruby Loop" objective

Question

I'm really sorta lost as to what's wrong with this. With the code below, I get an unexpected keyword_end syntax error.

Here's the objective: Using the loop construct, add the current value of number to the numbers array. Inside of the loop, add 1 to the number variable. Use the break keyword to exit the loop once the numbers array has 3 items.

numbers = []
number = 0

# write your loop here
loop do  
  numbers.push(number) 

  if numbers.length == 3
    break
  end

   number++
end

After some playing around, I removed number++ and the objective passed. However, I don't understand why. Wouldn't it just be an infinite loop without number++?

numbers = []
number = 0

# write your loop here
loop do  
  numbers.push(number) 

  if numbers.length == 3
    break
  end

   # number++
end

Answer 1 · 2015-10-15T13:35:22Z

October 15, 2015 1:35pm

No, it would not be an infinite loop without number++. This is because you're checking how many objects are in the numbers array, and breaking based on that (not whatever the value of number is). The reason your code isn't working with that line is because the ++ construct is not valid Ruby. While it's a feature of other languages that I like very much, Ruby doesn't implement it, and forces you to use the += construct, like this:

number += 1

Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Looking to learn something new?

Ricardo Hill-Henry

Ricardo Hill-Henry

"The Ruby Loop" objective

1 Answer

Michael Hulet

Michael Hulet

Ricardo Hill-Henry

Ricardo Hill-Henry