Solution Exercise 7: maximum of three numbers in python

Exercise 7

Write a Python algorithm that asks the user to enter 3 numbers x, y, and z and display their maximum without using the max() function.

Solution

# Ask the user to enter three numbers
x = float(input("Enter the first number: "))
y = float(input("Enter the second number: "))
z = float(input("Enter the third number: "))

# Find the maximum of the three numbers without using the max() function
max_num = x
if y > max_num:
    max_num = y
if z > max_num:
    max_num = z

# Display the maximum number
print("The maximum of the three numbers is", max_num)

"""
output:
Enter the first number: 3.75
Enter the second number: 7.2
Enter the third number: 3.0
The maximum of the three numbers is 7.2
"""

In this program:

1. we initialize max_num: to be the first number x.
2. We then use a series of if statements: to check whether y or z are larger than max_num.
3. If y is larger than max_num: we update max_num to be y.
4. Similarly, if z is larger than max_num: we update max_num to be z.
5. By the end of the if statements: max_num will hold the largest of the three numbers. Finally, we print out the value of max_num.

Younes Derfoufi
my-courses.net