Unequal subplot sizes in Matplotlib - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

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

Matplotlib

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

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

A3

B2

C1

D4

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 1 instead of 2 creates only one subplot.

Using 3 or 4 creates more subplots than needed.

We want two subplots stacked vertically, so the number of rows is 2.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to set the height ratios of the two subplots to 3 and 1.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 1, gridspec_kw={'height_ratios': [1])
plt.show()

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

A[1, 3]

B[1, 1]

C[2, 2]

D[3, 1]

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Reversing the order of ratios.

Using equal ratios which make subplots equal height.

The height_ratios list sets the relative heights of subplots from top to bottom. [3, 1] means the first subplot is three times taller than the second.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to create subplots with unequal widths.

Matplotlib

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

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

A{'width_ratios': [2, 1]}

B{'height_ratios': [2, 1]}

C['width_ratios', [2, 1]]

D{'width_ratio': [2, 1]}

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'height_ratios' for horizontal subplots.

Misspelling the key as 'width_ratio'.

Using a list instead of a dictionary.

The correct key is 'width_ratios' with a list of ratios. Other options are incorrect keys or wrong data types.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a figure with 3 vertical subplots with height ratios 1, 2, and 1.

Matplotlib

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

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

A3

B{'height_ratios': [1, 2, 1]}

C{'width_ratios': [1, 2, 1]}

D2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using width_ratios instead of height_ratios.

Setting wrong number of rows.

We need 3 rows for 3 vertical subplots and set height_ratios to [1, 2, 1] for unequal heights.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a figure with 2 rows and 2 columns of subplots, where the first row is twice as tall and the first column is three times as wide.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, axs = plt.subplots([1], [2], gridspec_kw=[3])
plt.show()

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

A2

C{'height_ratios': [2, 1], 'width_ratios': [3, 1]}

D3

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up rows and columns numbers.

Using only height_ratios or width_ratios but not both.

We want 2 rows and 2 columns. The height_ratios set the first row twice as tall, and width_ratios set the first column three times as wide.

Practice

1. What is the main advantage of using unequal subplot sizes in matplotlib?

easy

A. To automatically adjust colors of the plots

B. To make all charts the same size for uniformity

C. To highlight important charts by giving them more space

D. To reduce the total number of charts displayed

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand subplot size purpose

   Unequal subplot sizes allow some plots to be larger, drawing more attention.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only To highlight important charts by giving them more space mentions highlighting important charts by size, which is the main advantage.

3. Final Answer:

   To highlight important charts by giving them more space -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Unequal sizes highlight key charts [OK]

Hint: Unequal sizes = emphasize important plots [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking all subplots must be equal size
• Confusing size with color or number of plots
• Assuming unequal sizes reduce charts

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create subplots with unequal sizes using gridspec_kw in plt.subplots()?

easy

A. plt.subplots(1, 2, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [2, 1]})

B. plt.subplots(2, 1, gridspec_kw={'height_ratios': [1, 2]})

C. plt.subplots(1, 2, gridspec_kw={'height_ratios': [2, 1]})

D. plt.subplots(2, 1, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [1, 2]})

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct parameter for horizontal subplots

   For 1 row and 2 columns, use 'width_ratios' to set horizontal size ratios.

2. Step 2: Match ratios to subplot layout

   plt.subplots(1, 2, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [2, 1]}) uses 1 row, 2 columns with width_ratios, which is correct syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   plt.subplots(1, 2, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [2, 1]}) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Width ratios for columns = plt.subplots(1, 2, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [2, 1]}) [OK]

Hint: Use width_ratios for columns, height_ratios for rows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing width_ratios with rows instead of columns
• Using height_ratios for horizontal layout
• Wrong number of rows and columns in function

3. What will be the width ratio of the two subplots created by this code?

fig, axs = plt.subplots(1, 2, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [3, 1]})

medium

A. Both subplots have equal width

B. The subplots have random widths

C. The second subplot is 3 times wider than the first

D. The first subplot is 3 times wider than the second

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand width_ratios parameter

   The list [3, 1] means the first subplot width is 3 units, second is 1 unit.

2. Step 2: Interpret ratio meaning

   This means the first subplot is 3 times wider than the second subplot.

3. Final Answer:

   The first subplot is 3 times wider than the second -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Width ratio 3:1 means first is 3x wider [OK]

Hint: Ratio list directly shows relative sizes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming equal widths despite ratios
• Reversing which subplot is wider
• Ignoring the ratio values

4. Identify the error in this code that tries to create unequal subplot sizes:

fig, axs = plt.subplots(2, 1, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [1, 2]})

medium

A. Incorrect number of subplots specified

B. Using width_ratios for vertical subplots instead of height_ratios

C. Missing plt.show() to display plots

D. width_ratios list length does not match subplot count

Solution

1. Step 1: Check subplot layout

   2 rows and 1 column means vertical stacking of subplots.

2. Step 2: Verify correct ratio parameter

   For vertical layout, use 'height_ratios', not 'width_ratios'.

3. Final Answer:

   Using width_ratios for vertical subplots instead of height_ratios -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical layout needs height_ratios [OK]

Hint: Use height_ratios for rows, width_ratios for columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing width_ratios and height_ratios
• Ignoring subplot grid shape
• Assuming plt.show() affects subplot sizes

5. You want to create a figure with 3 subplots in one row where the middle subplot is twice as wide as the others. Which code correctly achieves this?

hard

A. plt.subplots(1, 3, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [1, 2, 1]})

B. plt.subplots(3, 1, gridspec_kw={'height_ratios': [1, 2, 1]})

C. plt.subplots(1, 3, gridspec_kw={'height_ratios': [1, 2, 1]})

D. plt.subplots(3, 1, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [1, 2, 1]})

Solution

1. Step 1: Determine subplot layout

   One row and three columns means horizontal layout.

2. Step 2: Choose correct ratio parameter

   For horizontal layout, use 'width_ratios' to set widths.

3. Step 3: Set ratios to make middle subplot twice as wide

   Use [1, 2, 1] so middle subplot is twice the width of others.

4. Final Answer:

   plt.subplots(1, 3, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [1, 2, 1]}) -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Horizontal layout with width_ratios = plt.subplots(1, 3, gridspec_kw={'width_ratios': [1, 2, 1]}) [OK]

Hint: Middle subplot twice wide = width_ratios [1, 2, 1] [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using height_ratios for horizontal layout
• Setting wrong number of rows and columns
• Reversing ratio order