# creating arrays
array1 = [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
array2 = Array[ 3, 4, 5, 6 ]
array3 = Array.[]( 1, 2, 3, 4 )

# add a pretty array function
class Array
	def format
		"[ #{self.join( ', ' )} ]"
	end
end

# appending to the end of an array
puts array1.format					# generates [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
array1 << 5
puts array1.format					# generates [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]

# sub-arrays
puts array1[ 0, 3 ].format	# this prints the first 3 elements
puts array1[ 1..4 ].format	# this prints elements at index 1 through 4

# array math
puts ( array1 & array2 ).format		# generates [ 3, 4, 5 ]
puts ( array1 * 2 ).format			# generates [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
puts ( array1 + [ 6, 7 ] ).format	# generates [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ]
puts ( array1 - array2 ).format		# generates [ 1, 2 ]
puts ( array1 | array2 ).format		# generates [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ]

# useful array functions:
array1.collect! do |x| x += 5 end
puts array1.format					# generates [ 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]
array1.delete_if do |x| x > 8 end
puts array1.format					# generates [ 6, 7, 8 ]

# each -- this is the "ruby way" to iterate over arrays
array1.each do |x| puts x end

# there's tons more in the ruby docs