TakeSmallest
TakeSmallest[list,n]
gives the n numerically smallest elements in list, sorted in ascending order.
TakeSmallest[listprop,n]
gives the property prop for the n smallest elements in list.
TakeSmallest[n]
represents an operator form of TakeSmallest that can be applied to an expression.
Details and Options
- TakeSmallest sorts by numerical magnitude.
- It handles numeric objects with real values, Quantity objects, and DateObject constructs.
- In TakeSmallest[listprop,n], possible forms for prop include:
-
"Element" gives each element itself "Index" gives the index for each element {prop1,prop2,…} a list of multiple forms All gives an association with element and index - TakeSmallest has option ExcludedForms. With the default setting ExcludedForms->Automatic, TakeSmallest drops elements that are None, Null, or Indeterminate, or have head Missing.
- The setting ExcludedForms->{p1,p2,…} specifies that expressions matching any of the pi should be excluded from results generated by TakeSmallest.
- TakeSmallest[list,UpTo[n]] takes n smallest elements, or as many as are available.
- TakeSmallest[assoc,n] gives an association of length n by taking the n smallest values in assoc, preserving their keys.
- TakeSmallest[n][list] is equivalent to TakeSmallest[list,n].
Examples
open allclose allBasic Examples (5)
Take the two smallest numbers in a list:
Do the same using the operator form of TakeSmallest:
Take the two smallest values in an association:
Get the two smallest quantities in a list of Quantity objects:
Quantities can be present in multiple units:
Get the two least recent dates in a list of DateObject constructs:
By default, Missing[] and several other symbolic expressions are excluded from the results:
Take the 4 four smallest numbers, or as many as are available if fewer:
Scope (4)
Get the two smallest elements in a list:
Get the positions of the two smallest elements in a list:
Get the two smallest elements in a list along with their positions:
Get the two smallest elements in a list with their positions given first:
Get associations containing the element and position of the two smallest elements in a list:
Options (1)
ExcludedForms (1)
The option ExcludedForms->list specifies that elements matching any of the forms in list should be dropped before the elements are compared:
The default value ExcludedForms->Automatic excludes some common non-numeric expressions but leaves most symbolic expressions:
Applications (2)
Possible Issues (2)
If fewer than the requested number of elements are present, TakeSmallest will not evaluate:
If the elements are not comparable, TakeSmallest will not evaluate:
Text
Wolfram Research (2015), TakeSmallest, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallest.html (updated 2019).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2015. "TakeSmallest." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2019. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallest.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2015). TakeSmallest. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallest.html