Rcparams for global defaults in Matplotlib - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to import the module used to set global plotting defaults.

Matplotlib

import [1] as mpl

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Anumpy

Bseaborn

Cpandas

Dmatplotlib

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Importing numpy or pandas instead of matplotlib.

Forgetting to alias matplotlib as mpl.

The matplotlib module is imported as mpl to access rcParams for global defaults.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to set the default figure size globally using rcParams.

Matplotlib

mpl.rcParams['figure.[1]'] = (10, 6)

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Adpi

Btitle

Cfigsize

Dsize

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'figure.dpi' instead of 'figure.figsize'.

Using 'figure.size' which is not a valid rcParam.

The key 'figure.figsize' sets the default figure size globally in matplotlib.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to set the default font size globally.

Matplotlib

mpl.rcParams['font.[1]'] = 14

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Aweight

Bsize

Cfamily

Dstyle

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'font.weight' or 'font.family' instead of 'font.size'.

Trying to set font size with an invalid key.

The correct rcParam key to set font size is 'font.size'.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to set the default line width and color globally.

Matplotlib

mpl.rcParams['lines.[1]'] = 2
mpl.rcParams['lines.[2]'] = 'red'

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Alinewidth

Blinestyle

Ccolor

Dmarker

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'linestyle' instead of 'linewidth' for width.

Using 'marker' instead of 'color' for line color.

The keys 'lines.linewidth' and 'lines.color' set the default line width and color.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a dictionary of rcParams for font family, axes title size, and grid visibility.

Matplotlib

custom_rc = {
    'font.[1]': 'serif',
    'axes.titlesize': [2],
    'axes.[3]': True
}

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Afamily

B14

Cgrid

Dlabelsize

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'font.size' instead of 'font.family'.

Using 'axes.labelsize' instead of 'axes.titlesize'.

Using 'axes.grid' with a string instead of boolean.

The keys 'font.family', 'axes.titlesize', and 'axes.grid' control font family, title size, and grid visibility.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of rcParams in matplotlib?

easy

A. To set global style defaults for all plots

B. To create new plots with random styles

C. To save plots as image files

D. To import data into matplotlib

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what rcParams controls

   rcParams is a dictionary-like object in matplotlib that stores default settings for plot styles.

2. Step 2: Identify the purpose of setting rcParams

   Setting rcParams changes the default appearance of all plots globally, so you don't have to style each plot individually.

3. Final Answer:

   To set global style defaults for all plots -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   rcParams = global style defaults [OK]

Hint: Remember rcParams sets defaults for all plots globally [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking rcParams creates plots
• Confusing rcParams with saving files
• Believing rcParams imports data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to change the default figure size using rcParams?

easy

A. plt.rcParams['figure.size'] = (8, 6)

B. plt.rcParams['figsize'] = (8, 6)

C. plt.rcParams['fig.size'] = (8, 6)

D. plt.rcParams['figure.figsize'] = (8, 6)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the exact rcParams key for figure size

   The correct key is 'figure.figsize', which expects a tuple for width and height.

2. Step 2: Check the syntax for assignment

   Assigning a tuple like (8, 6) to plt.rcParams['figure.figsize'] sets the default figure size.

3. Final Answer:

   plt.rcParams['figure.figsize'] = (8, 6) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Key 'figure.figsize' = correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Use 'figure.figsize' key exactly for figure size [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong key names like 'figsize' or 'figure.size'
• Assigning a list instead of a tuple
• Forgetting to import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

3. What will be the default line width for all plots after running this code?

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.rcParams['lines.linewidth'] = 3
print(plt.rcParams['lines.linewidth'])

medium

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the code effect on rcParams

   The code sets 'lines.linewidth' to 3, changing the default line width globally.

2. Step 2: Check the printed value

   After setting, printing plt.rcParams['lines.linewidth'] outputs 3, confirming the change.

3. Final Answer:

   3 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Set then print 'lines.linewidth' = 3 [OK]

Hint: Setting rcParams key changes default; print confirms value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting default 1 without setting
• Confusing linewidth with linestyle
• Thinking print causes error

4. Identify the error in this code that tries to set the default font size:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.rcParams['font.size'] = 'large'

medium

A. The key 'font.size' is incorrect

B. The value should be a number, not a string

C. plt.rcParams cannot be modified

D. Missing import statement

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the key correctness

   'font.size' is the correct rcParams key for font size.

2. Step 2: Validate the value type

   The value must be a number (int or float), not a string like 'large'.

3. Final Answer:

   The value should be a number, not a string -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   font.size value must be numeric [OK]

Hint: Font size values must be numbers, not words [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using string values for numeric rcParams keys
• Assuming rcParams keys are case-insensitive
• Forgetting to import matplotlib.pyplot

5. You want all your matplotlib plots to have a dark background and white grid lines by default. Which rcParams settings should you apply?

hard

A. plt.rcParams['axes.facecolor'] = 'black'; plt.rcParams['grid.color'] = 'white'

B. plt.rcParams['figure.facecolor'] = 'white'; plt.rcParams['grid.color'] = 'black'

C. plt.rcParams['axes.facecolor'] = 'white'; plt.rcParams['grid.color'] = 'black'

D. plt.rcParams['figure.facecolor'] = 'black'; plt.rcParams['grid.color'] = 'black'

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the rcParams key for plot background

   'axes.facecolor' sets the background color inside the plot area, so set it to 'black' for dark background.

2. Step 2: Identify the rcParams key for grid line color

   'grid.color' controls the color of grid lines; setting it to 'white' makes them visible on a dark background.

3. Final Answer:

   plt.rcParams['axes.facecolor'] = 'black'; plt.rcParams['grid.color'] = 'white' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Dark background + white grid = axes.facecolor black, grid.color white [OK]

Hint: Use axes.facecolor for background, grid.color for grid lines [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Changing figure.facecolor instead of axes.facecolor
• Setting grid color to black on black background
• Confusing axes and figure color keys