Smallest number in an array python

Question

Trying to find the smallest number in an array that the user inputs. Here's what I have:

def main():
   numbers = eval(input("Give me an array of numbers: "))
   smallest = numbers[0]
   for i in range(0,len(numbers),1):
      if (numbers[i] < smallest):
         smallest = numbers[i]
         print("The smallest number is: ", smallest)
main()

The result I'm looking for is to be:

Give me an array of numbers: [11, 5, 3, 51]
The smallest number is 3

Instead, this is what I am getting:

Give me an array of numbers: [11, 5, 3, 51]
The smallest number is:  5
The smallest number is:  3

Can anyone help me figure out where I am messing up? Thanks in advance.

Since you assigned smallest = numbers[0] you can change the range in the for-loop to start at index 1 rather than 0. Also, the step parameter of range is 1 by default, so not required to specify. — aneroid
– aneroid, Commented Apr 10, 2014 at 6:29

Christian Tapia · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-10 06:12:57Z

6

You can just use min():

print("The smallest number is: ", min(numbers))

answered Apr 10, 2014 at 6:12

Christian Tapia

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Comments

Mathias · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-10 06:13:39Z

3

You have to print the output only once after the loop finishes.

def main():
   numbers = eval(input("Give me an array of numbers: "))
   smallest = numbers[0]
   for i in range(0,len(numbers),1):
      if (numbers[i] < smallest):
         smallest = numbers[i]
   print("The smallest number is: ", smallest)
main()

Or use min() as Christian suggested.

answered Apr 10, 2014 at 6:13

Mathias

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3 Comments

user3518112 Over a year ago

Not supposed to use built in functions. Practicing using different patterns, in this case, the extreme pattern.

Matthew Trevor Over a year ago

@user3518112 If you're operating under constraints like that, it always helps to mention them in the question.

skamsie Over a year ago

off-topic: where possible ast.literal_eval is preferred instead of eval as it only evaluates: 'strings, bytes, numbers, tuples, lists, dicts, sets, booleans, and None'

Ankit Gupta · Accepted Answer · 2022-08-02 16:07:29Z

0

Lets assume an array as arr

Method 1: First sorting an array in ascending order & then printing the element of 0 index

arr = [2,5,1,3,0]
arr.sort()
print(arr[0])

Method 2: Using For loop until we get the smallest number then min

arr = [2,5,1,3,0]
min = arr[0]
for i in range (len(arr)):
    if arr[i] < min:
        min = arr[i]
print(min)

answered Aug 2, 2022 at 16:07

Ankit Gupta

12 bronze badges

1 Comment

cards Over a year ago

Concerning method 1: A) it is an in-place operation, use sort build-in for a new list B) using a sort approach to find only the min/max could be a waste since, depending on the data in the list, it is at worst an n*log(n)

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