From: Robert Klemme <shortcutter@...>
Date: 2012-02-08T07:09:55+09:00
Subject: Re: A better way?

On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:00 PM, Dave Castellano
<dcastellano1@wideopenwest.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> As I am learning to program, I am finding things I think can probably be
> done in a better way.  The following code seems like something
> programmers must run into all the time and I am wondering if there is a
> better way to write the code in this situation.  I'm having fun and
> trying to get better at this....
>
>         if random_insert == 0
>            correct_answer_shuffled = "A"
>          elsif random_insert == 1
>            correct_answer_shuffled = "B"
>          elsif random_insert == 2
>            correct_answer_shuffled = "C"
>          elsif random_insert == 3
>            correct_answer_shuffled = "D"
>          elsif random_insert == 4
>            correct_answer_shuffled = "E"
>          end
>
> Is there a better way??

If you want to pick a random item from a list Array#sample is the simplest:

irb(main):011:0> a = %w{A B C D E}
=> ["A", "B", "C", "D", "E"]
irb(main):012:0> a.sample
=> "E"
irb(main):013:0> a.sample
=> "D"
irb(main):014:0> a.sample
=> "E"
irb(main):015:0> a.sample
=> "D"

Kind regards

robert

-- 
remember.guy do |as, often| as.you_can - without end
http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/