GREATEST and LEAST in MySQL - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ query_result

intermediate

Output of GREATEST with NULL values

What is the output of the following MySQL query?

SELECT GREATEST(5, NULL, 3) AS result;

MySQL

SELECT GREATEST(5, NULL, 3) AS result;

A 3

B 5

C NULL

D 0

💡 Hint

Remember how GREATEST handles NULL values in MySQL.

In MySQL, if any argument to GREATEST is NULL, the result is NULL.

❓ query_result

intermediate

LEAST function with negative and positive numbers

What is the output of this query?

SELECT LEAST(-10, 0, 5, 3) AS result;

MySQL

SELECT LEAST(-10, 0, 5, 3) AS result;

A -10

B 0

C 3

D 5

💡 Hint

LEAST returns the smallest value among the arguments.

Among -10, 0, 5, and 3, the smallest number is -10.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Identify the syntax error in GREATEST usage

Which option contains a syntax error when using the GREATEST function in MySQL?

A SELECT GREATEST(1, 2, 3) AS max_value;

B SELECT GREATEST(4, 5, ) AS max_value;

C SELECT GREATEST(2, 3, NULL) AS max_value;

D SELECT GREATEST(5, '10', 7) AS max_value;

💡 Hint

Look for misplaced commas or missing arguments.

Option B has a trailing comma with no argument after it, causing a syntax error.

❓ optimization

advanced

Optimizing LEAST with columns and constants

Given a table scores with columns math, science, and english, which query efficiently returns the lowest score for each student?

A SELECT LEAST(math, science) + LEAST(english, 0) AS lowest_score FROM scores;

B SELECT CASE WHEN math < science AND math < english THEN math WHEN science < english THEN science ELSE english END AS lowest_score FROM scores;

C SELECT MIN(math, science, english) AS lowest_score FROM scores;

D SELECT LEAST(math, science, english) AS lowest_score FROM scores;

💡 Hint

Consider built-in functions that compare multiple values in one call.

LEAST directly compares all three columns and returns the smallest value efficiently.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Behavior of GREATEST and LEAST with different data types

What is the result of this query?

SELECT GREATEST('10', 5, '7') AS greatest_val, LEAST('10', 5, '7') AS least_val;

Assume MySQL default type conversion rules.

MySQL

SELECT GREATEST('10', 5, '7') AS greatest_val, LEAST('10', 5, '7') AS least_val;

A greatest_val = 10, least_val = 5

B greatest_val = 10, least_val = 5 (both as strings)

C greatest_val = 10, least_val = 7

D greatest_val = '10', least_val = '7'

💡 Hint

MySQL converts strings to numbers when comparing numeric strings and numbers.

MySQL converts string numbers to numeric values for comparison. So GREATEST compares 10, 5, and 7 numerically, returning 10; LEAST returns 5.

Practice

1. What does the MySQL function GREATEST(3, 7, 5) return?

easy

A. NULL

B. 3

C. 5

D. 7

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the GREATEST function

   The GREATEST function returns the largest value among the given arguments.

2. Step 2: Compare the values 3, 7, and 5

   Among 3, 7, and 5, the largest number is 7.

3. Final Answer:

   7 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   GREATEST(3, 7, 5) = 7 [OK]

Hint: GREATEST picks the highest number from the list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing GREATEST with LEAST
• Thinking it returns the first value
• Assuming it returns a sum

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to find the smallest value among 10, 20, and 5 using MySQL?

easy

A. MIN(10, 20, 5)

B. LEAST(10, 20, 5)

C. SMALLEST(10, 20, 5)

D. LOWEST(10, 20, 5)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the function to find smallest value

   In MySQL, the LEAST function returns the smallest value from a list of arguments.

2. Step 2: Check the syntax options

   LEAST(10, 20, 5) is the correct syntax. MIN is an aggregate function and requires a column, not a list of values. SMALLEST and LOWEST are not valid MySQL functions.

3. Final Answer:

   LEAST(10, 20, 5) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   LEAST(10, 20, 5) is correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Use LEAST() for smallest, GREATEST() for largest values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using MIN() with values instead of columns
• Using non-existent functions like SMALLEST()
• Confusing function names

3. Given the table Scores with columns math, science, and english, what will the query SELECT GREATEST(math, science, english) AS top_score FROM Scores WHERE id = 1; return if the row with id = 1 has values (85, 90, 88)?

medium

A. 90

B. 85

C. 88

D. NULL

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the values for id = 1

   The row has math=85, science=90, english=88.

2. Step 2: Apply GREATEST to these values

   GREATEST(85, 90, 88) returns the largest value, which is 90.

3. Final Answer:

   90 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   GREATEST(85, 90, 88) = 90 [OK]

Hint: GREATEST returns the highest among given column values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting the first column value instead of greatest
• Confusing GREATEST with LEAST
• Assuming NULL if any value is less

4. Consider this query: SELECT LEAST(score1, score2, score3) FROM Results; It returns NULL for some rows even though all scores are numbers. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. Syntax error in the query

B. LEAST function only works with positive numbers

C. One or more scores are NULL in those rows

D. LEAST returns the largest value, so NULL is unexpected

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand LEAST behavior with NULLs

   LEAST returns NULL if any argument is NULL because NULL means unknown value.

2. Step 2: Check the cause of NULL results

   If some rows have NULL in score1, score2, or score3, LEAST will return NULL for those rows.

3. Final Answer:

   One or more scores are NULL in those rows -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   LEAST returns NULL if any input is NULL [OK]

Hint: Check for NULLs in inputs; LEAST returns NULL if any argument is NULL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming LEAST ignores NULLs
• Thinking LEAST only works with positive numbers
• Misreading LEAST as GREATEST

5. You want to find the highest and lowest scores among three exams for each student in a table Students with columns exam1, exam2, and exam3. Which query correctly returns the student ID, highest score as max_score, and lowest score as min_score?

hard

A. SELECT student_id, GREATEST(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS max_score, LEAST(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS min_score FROM Students;

B. SELECT student_id, MAX(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS max_score, MIN(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS min_score FROM Students;

C. SELECT student_id, GREATEST(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS min_score, LEAST(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS max_score FROM Students;

D. SELECT student_id, MAX(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS min_score, MIN(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS max_score FROM Students;

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand GREATEST and LEAST usage

   GREATEST returns the highest value among columns, LEAST returns the lowest.

2. Step 2: Check the query syntax

   SELECT student_id, GREATEST(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS max_score, LEAST(exam1, exam2, exam3) AS min_score FROM Students; correctly uses GREATEST and LEAST with column names and aliases them properly. MAX and MIN are aggregate functions and cannot take multiple columns as arguments directly.

3. Final Answer:

   Option A query -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use GREATEST and LEAST for column-wise max/min [OK]

Hint: Use GREATEST/LEAST for row-wise max/min, not MAX/MIN [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using MAX/MIN with multiple columns incorrectly
• Swapping GREATEST and LEAST aliases
• Syntax errors with aggregate functions