From: Peter Hickman <peterhickman386@...>
Date: 2012-02-08T21:04:28+09:00
Subject: Re: Count the numbers in a loop

Well there is this then

def f n
  ... yadda yadda yadda
end

counter = 0

num = gets.to_i
while num > 1
 num = f(num)
 puts num
 counter += 1
end

puts "There were #{counter} numbers displayed"

Also your comments are a waste of time. They convey nothing that the
code does not and in one case is plain wrong. The program does not
loop infinitely, it will terminate when num reaches 1 (and by the way
the syracuse formula - as this is known - will always terminate, it's
just that no one actually knows when from a given starting number. Say
hello to the halting problem).

Giving your function a completely meaningless name, such as 'f', does
not help. If you have to comment a function to say what does you
should just rename your function to something like
find_the_next_number(num) and be done with it.

Ignoring the comment on the sleep statement for a moment, why the
sleep statement at all.

Remember that quite a few teachers google the problems they set to see
if just this sort of thing is happening :)