How To Find Biggest Number In a List in Python

Posted on July 6, 2023  (Last modified on July 11, 2023 )

3 minutes  • 484 words

How to find the biggest number in a list in python

In this tutorial we will learn about how to find the biggest or largest number on a list.

Why find the biggest number in a list?

Finding the biggest number in a list is important because it helps us identify the largest value within a collection of numbers. This can be useful for various tasks, such as determining the highest score in a game, finding the largest measurement in a dataset, or identifying the maximum value in a set of values. By finding the biggest number in a list, we can extract valuable information and make comparisons based on the largest value.

There are multiple ways for us to find the biggest number on a list :

• Using max() function
• Using a for loop
• Using sort() method

Finding biggest number with max()

The max() function is a built-in function in Python that returns the largest item from an iterable or a series of arguments. When used with a list, it can quickly determine the maximum value without the need for a loop. For example:

num_list = [1, 10, 5, 20, 15]
max_num = max(num_list)
print(max_num)

Output:

20

Finding biggest number with for loop

We will use for loop to find the biggest number, for example:

num_list = [1, 10, 5, 20, 15]
max_num = num_list[0]

for num in num_list:
  if num > max_num:
    max_num = num

print(max_num)

Output:

20

Explanation: In this example, we start by assuming that the first element of the list (num_list[0]) is the maximum value. Then, we iterate through each element of my_list using a for loop. If a number is found that is greater than the current maximum (num > max_num), we update the max_num variable with that number. Finally, the maximum value is printed to the console.

Finding biggest number with sort()

The sort() method is a built-in method in Python that sorts the list in ascending order. After sorting the list, the largest number will be located at the end of the sorted list, and we just need to print the last number on the list. Here’s an example

num_list = [1, 10, 5, 20, 15]
num_list.sort()
max_num = num_list[-1]
print(num_list)
print(max_num)

Output:

[1, 5, 10, 15, 20]
20

Conclusion:

In conclusion, finding the biggest number in a list in Python is a common task that helps identify the largest value within a collection of numbers. This information is valuable for tasks such as analyzing data or making comparisons. Methods such as using the max() function, a for loop, or the sort() method provide efficient ways to find the maximum value in a list.

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