Why is a line in my if statement running every time? (python)

Question

I am working on a project were the user inputs a number and a list, and whatever item in the list is closest to the number, is printed out. I have come across a problem were the line in my if() statement in my while loop is running every time? I have a feeling it has something to do with indenting if() statements in python 3 but I am not certain. Anybody know why this is happening?

import math
MatchingI = math.inf

while i < len(compareList):
    if (abs(int(mainNum) - int(compareList[i])) < MatchingI):
        MatchingI = int(compareList[i])
    i += 1

Naetmul · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-26 01:43:19Z

2

I think that you need to assign abs(int(mainNum) - int(compareList[i])) to MatchingI, instead of assigning int(compareList[i]) to MatchingI.

import math
MatchingI = math.inf

while i < len(compareList):
    if (abs(int(mainNum) - int(compareList[i])) < MatchingI):
        MatchingI = abs(int(mainNum) - int(compareList[i]))
        answer = compareList[i]
    i += 1

print(answer)

Isn't this what you are looking for?

answered Apr 26, 2021 at 1:43

Naetmul

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4 Comments

Naetmul Over a year ago

@Aaron I think you need two variables, one is for the difference and the other is for something like whether it is larger or less.

Mark Ransom Over a year ago

It's more probable (by the naming convention) that they want MatchingI = i and the comparison to be < abs(int(mainNum) - int(compareList[MatchingI])).

Aaron Over a year ago

@Naetmul I didn't see the code part it glitched out and I didn't see the code part, sorry ._.

Naetmul Over a year ago

@MarkRansom Yes with MatchingI = 0 for initialization

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