Python – Lambda function to find the smaller value between two elements

The lambda function is an anonymous function. It can have any number of arguments but it can only have one expression.

Syntax lambda arguments : expression

In this article, we will learn how to find the smaller value between two elements using the Lambda function.

Example:

Input : 2 5
Output : 2

Input : 7 5
Output : 5

Method 1: Using lambda and min() method

Python3

# lambda function to return minimum of
# two elements a, b are the arguments and
# min() method is the expression here.
get_min = lambda a, b : min(a,b)

print(get_min(5, 8))

Output:

5

Explanation: The a,b are passed to the lambda function and min() method is used as an expression to return the minimum element.

Method 2: Using lambda and ternary operator

Python3

# lambda function to return minimum of two elements
# a, b are the arguments and ternary
# operator is used to compare two elements
get_min = lambda a, b : a if a < b else b

print(get_min(5, 8))

Output:

5

Explanation: a, b are the arguments and ternary operator is used for comparing two elements

Method 3 :Using Tuple and lambda 

Python3

# Two lambda functions will be stored
# in tuple such that 1st element is b
# and 2nd element will be b.
# if [a<b] is true it return 1 and
# element with index 1 will print
# else if [a<b] is false it return 0,
# so element with index 0 will print
a = 5
b = 8
print((lambda: b, lambda: a)[a < b]())

Output:

5

Explanation: 

Two lambda functions will be stored in a tuple such that 1st element is b and 2nd element will be b. if [a<b] is true it return 1 and element with index 1 will print else if [a<b] is false it return 0, so element with index 0 will print.