# Help

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help/146432>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 21, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help/146432 "2008-08-21T01:30:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/backz)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help/146432/1 "2008-08-21T01:30:59Z")

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okay, so in the book im reading it wanted me to do 2 things

1. wanted me to make a method for sorting a list of words

this is what i got now

def arange  
arr = []  
puts arr.sort.join(’, ')  
word = gets.chomp  
while word != “”  
arr \<\< word  
word = gets.chomp  
end  
end

arange

why isnt it working?

1. It wants me to make and “old school roman numerals” thing

so if i put a number it, it would return it in roman numerals, but NOT  
subtraction  
so like 4 would be IIII , not IV

IM CONFUSED WITH THAT!!! any body can give me a little hint on how to  
start?  
thx

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/backz)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help/146432/2 "2008-08-21T01:58:56Z")

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On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 7:27 AM, Daniel K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)  
wrote:

> IM CONFUSED WITH THAT!!! any body can give me a little hint on how to start?

start here [http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/](http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/backz)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help/146432/3 "2008-08-21T02:17:34Z")

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botp wrote:

> On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 7:27 AM, Daniel K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)  
> wrote:
> 
> > IM CONFUSED WITH THAT!!! any body can give me a little hint on how to start?
> 
> start here [http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/](http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/)

that was helpful

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@backz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/backz)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/help/146432/4 "2008-08-21T15:47:44Z")

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On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 7:27 PM, Daniel K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)  
wrote:

> puts arr.sort.join(', ')

Daniel,

I am not sure if your comment: “that was helpful” was meant to be  
sarcastic  
or if you really found the link helpful.  
However, if you if you still needs help, see below:

I am no Ruby expert but I re-arranged your code and it works:

def arange  
arr = []  
word = gets.chomp  
while word != “”  
arr \<\< word  
word = gets.chomp  
end

puts arr.sort.join(', ')

end  
arange

ruby mypgm.rb

orange  
banana  
Apple  
Banana  
Cherries  
mango

Apple, Banana, Cherries, banana, mango, orange

> ## IM CONFUSED WITH THAT!!! any body can give me a little hint on how to start? thx
> 
> Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/).

For your second question I also find it confusing. But you can find many  
examples on the web, _google_, about playing with roman numerals.