Accessing elements (indexing, first, last) in Ruby - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

How do you access the first element of an array in Ruby?

Use the first method. For example, array.first returns the first element.

beginner

What does array[-1] return in Ruby?

It returns the last element of the array. Negative indices count from the end, so -1 is the last element.

beginner

How can you access the third element of an array named arr?

Use zero-based indexing: arr[2] returns the third element because counting starts at zero.

beginner

What method returns the last element of an array in Ruby?

The last method returns the last element. For example, array.last.

beginner

What happens if you try to access an index that is out of range in Ruby arrays?

Ruby returns nil if the index is outside the array bounds, instead of an error.

Which Ruby code returns the first element of an array named nums?

A nums[1]

B nums.first

C nums.last

D nums[-1]

nums.first returns the first element. nums[1] returns the second element because indexing starts at zero.

What does arr[-2] return?

A Second element from the end

B First element

C Last element

D Second element from the start

Negative indices count from the end. -1 is last, so -2 is second from the end.

How do you get the last element of an array list?

A list.last

B list.first

C list[0]

D list[1]

list.last returns the last element of the array.

What will array[10] return if array has only 5 elements?

A The 11th element

B An error

C The last element

D nil

Ruby returns nil when accessing an index outside the array bounds.

Which index accesses the third element in a Ruby array?

A 1

B 3

C 2

D -3

Ruby arrays use zero-based indexing, so index 2 is the third element.

Explain how to access the first, last, and a specific element in a Ruby array.

Think about methods and index numbers.

What happens if you try to access an array element with an index that is too large?

Consider Ruby's behavior with out-of-range indices.

Practice

1. Which method or syntax in Ruby returns the first element of an array arr?

easy

A. arr.last

B. arr[1]

C. arr[-1]

D. arr.first

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of .first

   The .first method returns the first element of an array in Ruby.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   arr[1] returns the second element (indexing starts at 0), arr.last and arr[-1] return the last element.

3. Final Answer:

   arr.first -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   First element = arr.first [OK]

Hint: Use .first to get the first element easily [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using arr[1] instead of arr[0] for first element
• Confusing .last with .first
• Using negative index for first element

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to get the last element of an array arr in Ruby?

easy

A. arr.first

B. arr[0]

C. arr[-1]

D. arr[1]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand negative indexing in Ruby arrays

   Negative indexes count from the end, so arr[-1] returns the last element.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   arr[0] is the first element, arr.first also returns first, and arr[1] is second element.

3. Final Answer:

   arr[-1] -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Last element = arr[-1] [OK]

Hint: Use negative index -1 to get last element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using arr[1] thinking it's last element
• Using arr.first instead of arr.last
• Using arr[-0] which is invalid

3. What is the output of the following Ruby code?

arr = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]
puts arr[2]
puts arr.first
puts arr[-2]

medium

A. 40
10
30

B. 30
10
40

C. 30
50
40

D. 20
10
50

Solution

1. Step 1: Evaluate arr[2]

   Index 2 is the third element, which is 30.

2. Step 2: Evaluate arr.first and arr[-2]

   arr.first is 10 (first element), arr[-2] is second last element, 40.

3. Final Answer:

   30 10 40 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Index 2 = 30, first = 10, second last = 40 [OK]

Hint: Remember index starts at 0; negative counts from end [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing index 2 with index 3
• Mixing up first and last elements
• Misunderstanding negative indexes

4. The following Ruby code throws an error. What is the problem?

arr = [5, 10, 15]
puts arr.first()
puts arr[-4]

medium

A. Negative index -4 is out of range and returns nil, no error

B. Missing argument in first() causes error

C. Array is empty, so first() fails

D. Syntax error in calling first()

Solution

1. Step 1: Check arr.first() usage

   first() can be called with or without parentheses; no error here.

2. Step 2: Analyze arr[-4]

   Array has 3 elements, so index -4 is out of range and returns nil, which prints as empty line, no error.

3. Final Answer:

   Negative index -4 is out of range and returns nil, no error -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Out of range negative index returns nil [OK]

Hint: Out of range negative index returns nil, no error [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming out of range index causes error
• Thinking first() needs arguments
• Confusing nil with error

5. Given the array arr = ["a", "b", "c", "d", "e"], which Ruby expression returns a new array with only the first and last elements?

hard

A. [arr.first, arr.last]

B. arr[0, 1] + arr[-1]

C. arr[0] + arr[-1]

D. arr.first + arr.last

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   We want a new array containing only the first and last elements.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   [arr.first, arr.last] creates an array with arr.first and arr.last. arr[0, 1] + arr[-1] tries to add an array and a string (wrong). arr[0] + arr[-1] adds two strings, resulting in concatenation, not array. arr.first + arr.last adds two strings, also concatenation.

3. Final Answer:

   [arr.first, arr.last] -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Array with first and last elements = [arr.first, arr.last] [OK]

Hint: Use array brackets to combine first and last elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding strings instead of creating an array
• Using + with array and string causing error
• Forgetting to wrap elements in array brackets