max() and min() in Python - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to find the maximum number in the list.

Python

numbers = [3, 7, 1, 9, 4]
max_value = [1](numbers)
print(max_value)

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

Amax

Bmin

Csum

Dlen

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using min() instead of max()

Using sum() which adds numbers instead of finding max

The max() function returns the largest item in an iterable like a list.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to find the minimum number in the list.

Python

values = [10, 5, 8, 2, 7]
min_value = [1](values)
print(min_value)

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

Amax

Bmin

Csorted

Dlen

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using max() instead of min()

Using sorted() which returns a list, not a single value

The min() function returns the smallest item in an iterable.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly find the maximum value.

Python

data = [4, 9, 2, 6]
max_value = max[1]data
print(max_value)

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

A( )

B{ }

C[

D< >

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using square brackets which are for lists

Using curly braces which are for sets or dictionaries

The max() function requires parentheses around its argument.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a dictionary with word lengths only for words longer than 3 letters.

Python

words = ['cat', 'elephant', 'dog', 'lion']
lengths = {word: [1] for word in words if len(word) [2] 3}
print(lengths)

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

Alen(word)

B>

C<

Dword

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using < instead of > in the condition

Using the word itself instead of its length

The dictionary comprehension uses len(word) to get length and filters words with length greater than 3 using >.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a dictionary with uppercase keys and values only for values greater than 0.

Python

data = {'a': 1, 'b': 0, 'c': 3}
result = [1]: [2] for k, v in data.items() if v [3] 0
print(result)

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

Ak.upper()

Bv

C>

Dk

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using original keys without uppercase

Using < instead of > in the condition

Using keys as values instead of v

The dictionary comprehension uses k.upper() for uppercase keys, v for values, and filters values greater than 0 with >.

Practice

1. What does the max() function do in Python?

easy

A. Finds the largest item in a list or among values

B. Finds the smallest item in a list or among values

C. Sorts the list in ascending order

D. Removes duplicates from a list

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of max()

   The max() function is used to find the biggest or largest item from a list or multiple values.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options A, C, and D describe different functions or actions, not what max() does.

3. Final Answer:

   Finds the largest item in a list or among values -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   max() = largest item [OK]

Hint: max() returns the biggest value from inputs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing max() with min()
• Thinking max() sorts the list
• Assuming max() removes duplicates

2. Which of the following is the correct way to find the minimum value in a list named nums?

easy

A. minimum(nums)

B. min(nums)

C. nums.min()

D. min = nums

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the syntax of min()

   The correct syntax to find the smallest value in a list is min(list_name). So, min(nums) is correct.

2. Step 2: Check other options for errors

   minimum(nums) uses a non-existent function minimum(). nums.min() tries to call min() as a method on the list, which is invalid. min = nums assigns min to the list, which is incorrect usage.

3. Final Answer:

   min(nums) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   min(list) = smallest value [OK]

Hint: Use min(list_name) to get smallest value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using min as a method like nums.min()
• Trying to assign min to a variable incorrectly
• Using a wrong function name like minimum()

3. What is the output of this code?

numbers = [3, 7, 2, 9, 5]
print(max(numbers))
print(min(numbers))

medium

A. 9 and 2

B. 3 and 5

C. 7 and 2

D. Error

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the list values

   The list numbers contains [3, 7, 2, 9, 5].

2. Step 2: Find max and min values

   The largest value is 9 and the smallest value is 2.

3. Final Answer:

   9 and 2 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   max = 9, min = 2 [OK]

Hint: max() and min() find biggest and smallest values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing up max and min results
• Assuming print shows the whole list
• Syntax errors from missing parentheses

4. The following code gives an error. What is the problem?

values = [10, 20, 30]
print(max(values, key=abs))

medium

A. The key function abs() is unnecessary here

B. max() cannot be used with lists

C. The code runs without error and prints 30

D. abs() is not defined

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand max() with key parameter

   The key parameter lets max() compare items by a function result. Here, abs returns absolute values, which are the same as the original values since all are positive.

2. Step 2: Check if code runs correctly

   Since abs is a built-in function and the list is valid, the code runs without error and returns the largest value, 30.

3. Final Answer:

   The code runs without error and prints 30 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   max(values, key=abs) = 30 [OK]

Hint: max() with key=abs works fine; abs() is built-in [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking abs() is undefined
• Believing max() can't use key parameter
• Assuming code causes error

5. Given the list words = ['apple', 'banana', 'grape', 'kiwi'], which code finds the word with the shortest length?

hard

A. max(words)

B. max(words, key=len)

C. min(words)

D. min(words, key=len)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the key parameter with len()

   Using key=len tells min() to compare words by their length, not alphabetically.

2. Step 2: Identify shortest word

   Among the words, 'kiwi' has the shortest length (4 letters). So min(words, key=len) returns 'kiwi'.

3. Final Answer:

   min(words, key=len) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   min by length = 'kiwi' [OK]

Hint: Use min(list, key=len) to find shortest string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using max() instead of min() for shortest
• Not using key=len and getting alphabetical result
• Assuming min(words) finds shortest word