gistfile1.rb

# Sort lexicographically, but sorting numbers into their proper position.
# 
class Array
  def sort_preserving_numbers
    sort_by { |x|
      x.split(/(\d+)/).
        map { |piece| piece.match(/\d/) ? piece.to_i : piece }
    }
  end
end

# USAGE:
p array = (7..12).map{ |x| "I have #{x} apples" }
p array.sort
# => ["I have 10 apples", "I have 11 apples", "I have 12 apples", "I have 7 apples", "I have 8 apples", "I have 9 apples"]

p array.sort_preserving_numbers
# => ["I have 7 apples", "I have 8 apples", "I have 9 apples", "I have 10 apples", "I have 11 apples", "I have 12 apples"]