Python | Maximum and Minimum value from two lists

The problem of finding maximum and minimum values in a list is quite common. But sometimes this problem can be extended in two lists and hence becomes a modified problem. This article discusses shorthands by which this task can be performed easily. Let’s discuss certain ways in which this problem can be solved. 

Method #1: Using max() + min() + “+” operator The maximum and minimum values can be determined by the conventional max and min function of python and the extension of one to two lists can be dealt using the “+” operator. 

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate
# maximum and minimum values in two lists
# using max() + min() + "+" operator

# initializing lists
test_list1 = [1, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6]
test_list2 = [3, 4, 8, 3, 10, 1]

# printing the original lists
print ("The original list 1 is : " + str(test_list1))
print ("The original list 2 is : " + str(test_list2))

# using max() + min() + "+" operator
# maximum and minimum values in two lists
max_all = max(test_list1 + test_list2)
min_all = min(test_list1 + test_list2)

# printing result
print ("The maximum of both lists is : " + str(max_all))
print ("The minimum of both lists is : " + str(min_all))

Output:

The original list 1 is : [1, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6]
The original list 2 is : [3, 4, 8, 3, 10, 1]
The maximum of both lists is : 10
The minimum of both lists is : 1

Method #2: Using max() + min() + chain() Another method to perform this particular task is by using the chain function which performs the task similar to the “+” operator but using an iterator, hence faster. 

Python3

# Python3 code to demonstrate
# maximum and minimum values in two lists
# using max() + min() + "+" operator
from itertools import chain

# initializing lists
test_list1 = [1, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6]
test_list2 = [3, 4, 8, 3, 10, 1]

# printing the original lists
print ("The original list 1 is : " + str(test_list1))
print ("The original list 2 is : " + str(test_list2))

# using max() + min() + "+" operator
# maximum and minimum values in two lists
max_all = max(chain(test_list1, test_list2))
min_all = min(chain(test_list1, test_list2))

# printing result
print ("The maximum of both lists is : " + str(max_all))
print ("The minimum of both lists is : " + str(min_all))

Output:

The original list 1 is : [1, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6]
The original list 2 is : [3, 4, 8, 3, 10, 1]
The maximum of both lists is : 10
The minimum of both lists is : 1

Method#3: Using list comprehension

Python3

list1 = [1, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6];list2 = [3, 4, 8, 3, 10, 1]
x=[i for i in list1+list2]
print("maximum element is ",max(x),"minimum element is ",min(x))

Output

maximum element is  10 minimum element is  1

Method: Using enumerate function

Python3

list1 = ['1', '3', '4', '5', '2', '6'];list2 = ['3', '4', '8', '3', '10', '1']
x=[int(i) for a,i in enumerate(list1+list2)]
print("maximum element is ",max(x),"minimum element is ",min(x))

Output

maximum element is  10 minimum element is  1