x上的to_s方法的作用是什么？

Question

This code will generate a positive even integer ladder:

puts "Enter an integer"
n = gets
def pattern(n)
  2.step(n, 2).map {|x| x.to_s * x}.join("\n")
end

I have been struggling to figure out what to_s does to the code.

Answer 1

It converts a fixnum into a string. It is particularly necessary because it is followed by the * x operation, which multiplies a string. If to_s had not been applied, then * x will multiply the fixnum arithmetically.

Answer 2

The x.to_s is needed so that String's * method is called and not Integer's * method.

> i = 2
=> 2
> i * 2
=> 4
> s = '2'
=> "2"
> s * 2
=> "22"