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Ruby Ruby Basics Conditionals A Better "check_speed" Method

A Better "check_speed" Method

This seems like it should work? What am I missing?

program.rb
def check_speed(speed)
  if speed < 45
    puts "too slow"
  elsif speed > 60
    puts "too fast"
  else speed.between(45, 60)
    puts "speed OK"
  end
end

4 Answers

William Li
PLUS
William Li
Courses Plus Student 26,868 Points

Your code only requires a small fix to make it work. The syntax error lies on this line else speed.between(45, 60), as Antonio De Rose has pointed out, unlike if & elsif clause, else clause does not follow up w/ a conditional check. So delete speed.between(45, 60) after the else keyword, and your code should pass.

def check_speed(speed)
  if speed < 45
    puts "too slow"
  elsif speed > 60
    puts "too fast"
  else            # deleted speed.between(45, 60)
    puts "speed OK"
  end
end

In fact, it makes perfect sense to write the code this way, because if the number is greater than 45 & less than 60, it must lie somewhere between (45, 60).

Antonio De Rose
Antonio De Rose
20,885 Points
def check_speed(speed)
  if speed < 45
    puts "too slow"
  elsif speed > 60 # it is a good practice, to follow in a top down approach, like
#when you check for the conditions
#first 45 then between 45 and 60 and then finally, 60 above
    puts "too fast"
  else speed.between(45, 60) #error, you do not have something like between with argument passed for an if else
#and else cant have a condition, it literally an else and no paranthasis with a conditon
#meaning, anything of all the above conditions, go into this scope
    puts "speed OK"
  end
end

#you can either have 3 separate if's, for the reason, there is nothing can be with an else condition
#or else, you can have one if and 2 elsif's which I will not encourage, as there will be an else part missing

#like the below

def check_speed(speed)
  if speed  < 45
    puts "too slow"
  end
  if speed >= 45 and speed <= 60 
    puts "speed OK"
  end
  if speed > 60
    puts "too fast"
  end
end

Thank you both.

This is what I have. In my editor it works, however in workspaces it does not. Am I missing something in translation?

def check_speed(speed)
    if speed >= 60
        puts "too fast"
    elsif speed > 45
        puts "speed OK"
    else
        puts "too slow"
    end
end

check_speed(45)      # Returns 'too slow'
check_speed(46)      # Returns 'speed OK'
check_speed(60)      # Returns 'too fast'