Python Coding Challange - Question with Answer (01051025)

 

Explanation:

1. Import the heapq Module

import heapq

Purpose: This imports Python’s built-in heapq module, which provides functions for implementing a min-heap.

Min-heap: A binary heap where the smallest element is always at the root.

2. Define the List

nums = [5, 3, 8, 1]

Purpose: Creates a Python list nums containing integers [5, 3, 8, 1].

Current structure: It’s a normal unsorted list at this point, not a heap yet.

3. Convert List to a Heap

heapq.heapify(nums)

Purpose: Transforms the list nums into a min-heap in-place.

How it works:

Rearranges the elements so the smallest number becomes the first element (nums[0]).

The rest of the list maintains the heap property: for every parent node i, nums[i] <= nums[2*i+1] and nums[i] <= nums[2*i+2].

Resulting heap: [1, 3, 8, 5] (the exact order after the root can vary but the heap property holds).

4. Pop the Smallest Element

print(heapq.heappop(nums))

Purpose: Removes and returns the smallest element from the heap.

Step by step:

Heap root (nums[0]) is 1, which is the smallest element.

Remove 1 and restructure the heap to maintain the min-heap property.

The remaining heap becomes [3, 5, 8].

Output: 1 (printed to the console).

Output:

1

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