1 # provided by Daniel Baldwin

     2 

     3 nums = (1..1000)

     4 

     5 #iterate through the nums 1-100

     6 nums.each do |i|

     7 

     8 	start_time = Time.now

     9 	string = "a" * i

    10 	re_str = "a?" * i + "+" + "a" * i

    11 	#create a new regular expression based on current value of i

    12 	

    13 	re = Regexp.new(re_str)

    14 

    15         re.match(string)

    16 	#if re.match(string)

    17 	#	puts "matched string  a * #{i} with regex #{re}"

    18 	#else

    19 	#	puts "unmatched string a * #{i} with regex #{re}"

    20 	#end

    21 	

    22   puts "#{i} %.5f" % (Time.now - start_time)

    23 end