n = 89
# create text labels for each possible case
result = [
"negative", # index 0
"zero", # index 1
"positive" # index 2
]
# compute an index without using any conditional statements
# (n > 0) becomes 1 if true, 0 if false
# (n < 0) becomes 1 if true, 0 if false
# index = 1 + (n > 0) - (n < 0)
index = 1 + (n > 0 ? 1 : 0) - (n < 0 ? 1 : 0)
# print the classification
puts result[index]
=begin
Checks:
n = -3
(n > 0) = 0
(n < 0) = 1
index = 1 + 0 - 1 = 0
result = negative
n = 0
(n > 0) = 0
(n < 0) = 0
index = 1 + 0 - 0 = 1
result = zero
n = 89
(n > 0) = 1
(n < 0) = 0
index = 1 + 1 - 0 = 2
result = positive
=end
=begin
run:
positive
=end
