Subplot spacing adjustment in Matplotlib - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to create a figure with 2 subplots arranged vertically.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 1)
plt.[1]()
plt.show()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Atight_layout

Bshow

Csubplot

Dfigure

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using plt.show() instead of plt.tight_layout() before showing the plot.

Calling plt.subplot() which creates a single subplot, not adjusting spacing.

The tight_layout() function adjusts subplot spacing automatically to prevent overlap.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to adjust horizontal space between subplots using subplots_adjust.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(1, 2)
fig.subplots_adjust([1]=0.5)
plt.show()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Atop

Bwspace

Chspace

Dleft

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'hspace' which controls vertical spacing instead of horizontal.

Using 'top' or 'left' which control figure edges, not spacing between subplots.

The wspace parameter controls the width space between subplots.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to adjust vertical space between subplots.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 1)
fig.subplots_adjust([1]=0.3)
plt.show()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Awspace

Bwidth

Chspace

Dheight

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'wspace' which adjusts horizontal spacing.

Using 'width' or 'height' which are not valid parameters for subplots_adjust.

The hspace parameter adjusts vertical space between subplots.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create subplots and adjust both horizontal and vertical spacing.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 2)
fig.subplots_adjust([1]=0.4, [2]=0.6)
plt.show()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Awspace

Bhspace

Cleft

Dright

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'left' or 'right' which control figure edges, not spacing.

Mixing up 'wspace' and 'hspace' parameters.

wspace adjusts horizontal spacing and hspace adjusts vertical spacing between subplots.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create subplots, adjust spacing, and set a title for the figure.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(3, 1)
fig.subplots_adjust([1]=0.5, [2]=0.4)
fig.[3]('My Subplots')
plt.show()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Awspace

Bhspace

Csuptitle

Dtitle

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using title which sets title for individual subplots, not the figure.

Mixing up wspace and hspace values.

wspace and hspace adjust subplot spacing. suptitle sets the overall figure title.

Practice

1. What does the plt.subplots_adjust() function do in matplotlib?

easy

A. It changes the space between subplots in a figure.

B. It creates new subplots in a figure.

C. It saves the figure to a file.

D. It changes the color of the plot lines.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of plt.subplots_adjust()

   This function is used to control the spacing between subplots in a matplotlib figure.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only It changes the space between subplots in a figure. correctly describes adjusting space between subplots. Other options describe different functions.

3. Final Answer:

   It changes the space between subplots in a figure. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Subplot spacing adjustment = plt.subplots_adjust() [OK]

Hint: Remember: adjust spacing, not create or save plots [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing subplot creation with spacing adjustment
• Thinking it saves the figure
• Mixing it with styling functions

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to increase horizontal space between subplots using plt.subplots_adjust()?

easy

A. plt.subplots_adjust(hspace=0.5)

B. plt.subplots_adjust(space=0.5)

C. plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.5)

D. plt.subplots_adjust(widthspace=0.5)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify parameter for horizontal spacing

   The parameter wspace controls horizontal space between subplots.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.5) uses wspace=0.5, which is correct. Other options use incorrect or non-existent parameters.

3. Final Answer:

   plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.5) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   wspace adjusts horizontal space [OK]

Hint: Use wspace for width (horizontal), hspace for height (vertical) [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using hspace instead of wspace for horizontal spacing
• Using wrong parameter names like space or widthspace
• Syntax errors in function call

3. What will be the effect of this code on subplot spacing?

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(1, 2)
plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=1.0)
plt.show()

medium

A. Subplots will have increased horizontal space between them.

B. Subplots will be very close horizontally with almost no space.

C. Subplots will overlap each other.

D. Subplots will have increased vertical space between them.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand wspace=1.0 effect

   Setting wspace to 1.0 increases horizontal space between subplots significantly.

2. Step 2: Analyze code behavior

   Since there are 2 subplots side by side, they will be spaced apart horizontally, not vertically.

3. Final Answer:

   Subplots will have increased horizontal space between them. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   wspace=1.0 means more horizontal space [OK]

Hint: wspace controls horizontal gap size between subplots [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing wspace with hspace
• Expecting subplots to overlap
• Thinking spacing affects vertical gap

4. Identify the error in this code that tries to adjust subplot spacing:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 1)
plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.3, hspace=0.5)
plt.show()

medium

A. Using hspace with vertical subplots is invalid.

B. Using wspace when subplots are stacked vertically.

C. Incorrect number of subplots created.

D. Missing plt.show() call.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze subplot layout

   The code creates 2 subplots stacked vertically (2 rows, 1 column).

2. Step 2: Check spacing parameters

   wspace controls horizontal spacing, which is irrelevant here because subplots are vertical. Only hspace affects vertical spacing.

3. Final Answer:

   Using wspace when subplots are stacked vertically. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   wspace for horizontal, not vertical spacing [OK]

Hint: Match wspace to horizontal, hspace to vertical layout [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wspace for vertical subplot spacing
• Ignoring subplot grid shape
• Assuming hspace is invalid for vertical layout

5. You have a 2x2 grid of subplots with overlapping x-axis labels. Which plt.subplots_adjust() call best reduces overlap by increasing vertical space and adding some horizontal space?

hard

A. plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=1.5, hspace=0.0)

B. plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.0, hspace=0.0)

C. plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.0, hspace=1.5)

D. plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.4, hspace=0.6)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the problem of overlapping x-axis labels

   Overlapping x-axis labels usually happen vertically between rows, so increasing vertical space (hspace) helps.

2. Step 2: Consider horizontal space

   Adding some horizontal space (wspace) also improves readability between columns.

3. Step 3: Evaluate options

   plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.4, hspace=0.6) increases both wspace and hspace moderately, which best reduces overlap without wasting space.

4. Final Answer:

   plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.4, hspace=0.6) -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Increase hspace and wspace moderately to reduce overlap [OK]

Hint: Increase hspace for vertical gaps, wspace for horizontal gaps [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting spacing to zero causing overlap
• Increasing only one spacing dimension
• Using too large spacing causing wasted space