Variable-length arguments (*args) in Ruby - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Using Variable-Length Arguments (*args) in Ruby

📖 Scenario: You are creating a simple calculator that can add any number of numbers given to it. This is useful when you don't know in advance how many numbers the user wants to add.

🎯 Goal: Build a Ruby method that uses variable-length arguments (*args) to add any number of numbers and print the total sum.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a method called add_numbers that accepts variable-length arguments using *args.

Inside the method, calculate the sum of all numbers passed in *args.

Call the method with a list of numbers to test it.

Print the result of the addition.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Variable-length arguments are useful in calculators, logging functions, or any place where the number of inputs can change.

💼 Career

Understanding how to handle flexible inputs is important for writing reusable and adaptable code in software development.

1

Create the add_numbers method with *args

Write a method called add_numbers that accepts variable-length arguments using *args. Do not add any code inside the method yet.

Ruby

def add_numbers(*args)
  # Your code here
end

Need a hint?

Use def add_numbers(*args) to start the method.

2

Add code to sum all numbers in *args

Inside the add_numbers method, create a variable called total and set it to the sum of all numbers in args using the sum method.

Ruby

def add_numbers(*args)
  # Your code here
end

Need a hint?

Use total = args.sum to add all numbers.

3

Make the method return the total sum

Add a line inside the add_numbers method to return the variable total.

Ruby

def add_numbers(*args)
  total = args.sum
  # Your code here
end

Need a hint?

Use return total to send back the sum.

4

Call the method and print the result

Call the add_numbers method with the numbers 4, 7, 1, 8 and print the result using puts.

Ruby

def add_numbers(*args)
  total = args.sum
  return total
end

# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use puts add_numbers(4, 7, 1, 8) to show the sum.