From: matt@... (matt neuburg) Date: 2009-04-04T07:09:30+09:00 Subject: Re: Array#insert with negative index Eric Hodel wrote: > On Apr 3, 2009, at 12:49, matt neuburg wrote: > > > p [1,2,3].insert(-1, "howdy") > > #=> [1, 2, 3, "howdy"] > > > > Docs: "Inserts the given values before the element with the given > > index > > (which may be negative)." > > > > The element with index -1 is 3, the last item. Before is before. I > > have > > a feeling, though, that what's meant here is that when the index is > > negative, before means after (perhaps because we're looking at the > > array > > from the other end, as it were). Is that right? > > array: [ 1, 2, 3 ] > index: 0 1 2 3 > -4 -3 -2 -1 > > So -1 is "one before the end", etc. No, I don't follow. I don't get what your diagram is a diagram of. In an array... arr = [1,2,3] ...the "3" is arr[2]. It is also arr[-1]. There is no arr[3] or arr[-4]. The indices don't designate spaces between the items; they designate the items. m. -- matt neuburg, phd = matt@tidbits.com, http://www.tidbits.com/matt/ Leopard - http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/leopard-customizing.html AppleScript - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596102119 Read TidBITS! It's free and smart. http://www.tidbits.com