q1.rb

@max_size = 0
def is_palindrome(str)
#  puts "  checking string #{str}"

  rtn = true

  i = 0
  j = str.size-1
  while(rtn && i<str.length && j >= 0)
    puts "  i,j: #{i},#{j}"

    puts "  chars: #{str[i,1]},#{str[j,1]}"

    if str[i] != str[j]
      rtn = false
    end

    i+=1
    j-=1
  end
  rtn
end

@block = "fourscoreandsevenyearsagoourfaathersbroughtforthonthiscontainentanewnationconceivedinzLibertyanddedicatedtothepropositionthatallmenarecreatedequalNowweareengagedinagreahtcivilwartestingwhetherthatnaptionoranynartionsoconceivedandsodedicatedcanlongendureWeareqmetonagreatbattlefiemldoftzhatwarWehavecometodedicpateaportionofthatfieldasafinalrestingplaceforthosewhoheregavetheirlivesthatthatnationmightliveItisaltogetherfangandproperthatweshoulddothisButinalargersensewecannotdedicatewecannotconsecratewecannothallowthisgroundThebravelmenlivinganddeadwhostruggledherehaveconsecrateditfaraboveourpoorponwertoaddordetractTgheworldadswfilllittlenotlenorlongrememberwhatwesayherebutitcanneverforgetwhattheydidhereItisforusthelivingrathertobededicatedheretotheulnfinishedworkwhichtheywhofoughtherehavethusfarsonoblyadvancedItisratherforustobeherededicatedtothegreattdafskremainingbeforeusthatfromthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatcauseforwhichtheygavethelastpfullmeasureofdevotionthatweherehighlyresolvethatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvainthatthisnationunsderGodshallhaveanewbirthoffreedomandthatgovernmentofthepeoplebythepeopleforthepeopleshallnotperishfromtheearth"

puts "length of string: #{@block.size}"
@answer = ""
0.upto(@block.length-1) do |i|
puts "i=#{i}"
(i+1).upto(@block.length-1) do |j|
puts "#{i},#{j}"
if is_palindrome(@block[i..j]) && @block[i..j].size > @max_size
  @max_size = @block[i..j].size
  @answer = @block[i..j]
  puts "answer updated: #{@answer} new length is #{@max_size}"
end
end
end

puts "Answer: #{@answer}"