Axis limits (xlim, ylim) in Matplotlib - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the x-axis range after setting xlim?

Consider the following code that plots a simple line and sets the x-axis limits. What will be the x-axis limits shown in the plot?

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot([1, 2, 3, 4, 5], [10, 20, 25, 30, 40])
plt.xlim(2, 4)
plt.show()
print(plt.xlim())

A (2.0, 4.0)

B (1.0, 5.0)

C (0.0, 6.0)

D (10.0, 40.0)

💡 Hint

The xlim function sets the visible range of the x-axis.

The plt.xlim(2, 4) command sets the x-axis limits to start at 2 and end at 4. The print statement confirms this by outputting (2.0, 4.0).

❓ data_output

intermediate

What is the y-axis range after setting ylim with reversed values?

Given this code snippet, what will be the output of plt.ylim() after setting ylim with reversed values?

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [5, 10, 15])
plt.ylim(20, 0)
plt.show()
print(plt.ylim())

A (15.0, 5.0)

B (20.0, 0.0)

C (5.0, 15.0)

D (0.0, 20.0)

💡 Hint

Setting ylim with the first value larger than the second reverses the y-axis direction.

When ylim is set as (20, 0), the y-axis is reversed, so plt.ylim() returns (20.0, 0.0).

❓ visualization

advanced

Identify the plot with correct axis limits applied

Four plots are generated with different xlim and ylim settings. Which plot correctly shows x-axis from 0 to 10 and y-axis from -5 to 5?

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
x = np.linspace(-10, 20, 100)
y = np.sin(x)

fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2, figsize=(8, 6))

axs[0, 0].plot(x, y)
axs[0, 0].set_xlim(0, 10)
axs[0, 0].set_ylim(-5, 5)
axs[0, 0].set_title('Plot A')

axs[0, 1].plot(x, y)
axs[0, 1].set_xlim(-5, 15)
axs[0, 1].set_ylim(-5, 5)
axs[0, 1].set_title('Plot B')

axs[1, 0].plot(x, y)
axs[1, 0].set_xlim(0, 10)
axs[1, 0].set_ylim(-10, 10)
axs[1, 0].set_title('Plot C')

axs[1, 1].plot(x, y)
axs[1, 1].set_xlim(0, 10)
axs[1, 1].set_ylim(-5, 0)
axs[1, 1].set_title('Plot D')

plt.tight_layout()
plt.show()

A Plot A

B Plot B

C Plot C

D Plot D

💡 Hint

Check both xlim and ylim values for each plot.

Only Plot A has x-axis limits from 0 to 10 and y-axis limits from -5 to 5 as set by set_xlim(0, 10) and set_ylim(-5, 5).

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

What happens if you set xlim with values outside data range?

If you plot data points between 0 and 5 on the x-axis but set xlim to (-10, 10), what will be the visible x-axis range and why?

A The x-axis will automatically adjust to data range 0 to 5 ignoring xlim.

B The plot will raise an error because xlim is outside data range.

C The x-axis will show from -10 to 10, including empty space outside data points.

D The x-axis will show only the data points from 0 to 5, ignoring the negative limit.

💡 Hint

Axis limits control the visible range regardless of data points.

Setting xlim to (-10, 10) forces the x-axis to show that range, even if data points only exist between 0 and 5. This creates empty space on the plot.

🔧 Debug

expert

Why does this code not change the axis limits as expected?

Examine the code below. The user tries to set xlim and ylim but the plot still shows default axis limits. What is the reason?

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6])
plt.show()
plt.xlim(0, 5)
plt.ylim(0, 10)
print(plt.xlim(), plt.ylim())

A The plot command resets axis limits after xlim and ylim are called.

B The axis limits are ignored because the data points are outside the limits.

C The plt.xlim and plt.ylim functions require arguments as tuples, not separate values.

D The axis limits are set after plt.show(), so they have no effect on the displayed plot.

💡 Hint

plt.show() displays the plot immediately and freezes the current figure state.

Calling plt.xlim and plt.ylim after plt.show() does not affect the already displayed plot. Axis limits must be set before plt.show().