Python Coding challenge - Day 529| What is the output of the following Python Code?

 

Code Explanation:

 1. Importing the heapq Module

import heapq

Imports Python's built-in heap queue (priority queue) module.

heapq provides an efficient way to manage a heap (min-heap by default).

2. Defining the Function to Get the Kth Smallest Element

def kth_smallest(nums, k):

Defines a function kth_smallest that takes:

nums: A list of numbers.

k: The position (1-based) of the k-th smallest element to find.

3. Finding the K Smallest Elements

    return heapq.nsmallest(k, nums)[-1]

heapq.nsmallest(k, nums) returns the k smallest elements in the list nums, sorted in ascending order.

[-1] selects the last of these k smallest values — which is the k-th smallest.

Example:

heapq.nsmallest(3, [7, 10, 4, 3, 20, 15]) 

→ [3, 4, 7]

→ [-1] = 7

4. Printing the Result

print(kth_smallest([7, 10, 4, 3, 20, 15], 3))

Calls kth_smallest with k=3.

Prints the 3rd smallest element in the list [7, 10, 4, 3, 20, 15].

Output

7