python list append value depending on an if clause

Question

I am new to Python, so apologize if the question is very simple.

I want to append a value to a list. However, I need to check if the value computed is less than 5000.

If the value is less than 5000 then append the computed value, else append 5000. How can I do this?

e.g

mylist.append(a*list1[t]+b*list1[t+1])

My current approach:

if a*list1[t]+b*list1[t+1] < 5000:
    mylist.append(a*list1[t]+b*list1[t+1])
else:
    mylist.append(5000)

Can I do this in one line?

suggestion: use `var = a*list1[t]+b*list1[t+1]` so you don't need to write (and compute) this twice — Chris_Rands, Aug 29 '18 at 17:07
`mylist.append(a*list1[t]+b*list1[t+1] if a*list1[t]+b*list1[t+1] < 5000 else 5000)` — dangee1705, Aug 29 '18 at 17:08
@Chris_Rands I think this question should be re-opened, it's not necessarily a duplicate of the one you linked to. — nnyby, Aug 29 '18 at 17:12
oh woops - yeah it's just `min()`, there is no `math.min()`. — nnyby, Aug 29 '18 at 17:19

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 29 '18 at 17:32

6

You can use the builtin min() method.

Let A = a*list1[t] and B = b*list1[t+1].

With your approach:

if A + B < 5000:
    mylist.append(A + B)
else:
    mylist.append(5000)

With min() approach:

mylist.append(min((A + B), 5000))

edited Aug 29 '18 at 17:32

MarianD

answered Aug 29 '18 at 17:18

Felipe

That works. As a followup. Can you suggest improvement to this code – MAIGA Aug 30 '18 at 19:04

1 Answers1