Python Coding challenge - Day 213 | What is the output of the following Python Code?

 

Code:

a = [1, 2, 3, 4]

b = [1, 2, 5]

if sorted(a) < sorted(b):

    print(True)

else:

    print(False)

Solution and Explanation: 

Let's break down the code step by step to understand what it does:

List Initialization:

a = [1, 2, 3, 4]

b = [1, 2, 5]

Here, two lists a and b are initialized with the values [1, 2, 3, 4] and [1, 2, 5], respectively.

Sorting the Lists:

sorted(a)

sorted(b)

The sorted() function is used to sort the lists a and b. However, since both lists are already sorted in ascending order, the sorted versions will be the same as the original:

sorted(a) results in [1, 2, 3, 4]

sorted(b) results in [1, 2, 5]

Comparison:

sorted(a) < sorted(b)

In Python, comparing lists using < compares them lexicographically (element by element from left to right, like in a dictionary). The comparison proceeds as follows:

Compare the first elements: 1 (from a) and 1 (from b). Since they are equal, move to the next element.

Compare the second elements: 2 (from a) and 2 (from b). Since they are equal, move to the next element.

Compare the third elements: 3 (from a) and 5 (from b). Since 3 is less than 5, the comparison sorted(a) < sorted(b) evaluates to True.

Conditional Statement:

if sorted(a) < sorted(b):

    print(True)

else:

    print(False)

Given that sorted(a) < sorted(b) is True, the code enters the if block and executes print(True).

Putting it all together, the code prints True because, when compared lexicographically, the sorted list a ([1, 2, 3, 4]) is indeed less than the sorted list b ([1, 2, 5]).